double time
2
4.9
- noun
- /ˈdʌbəl taɪm/
- Jargon
:
doble tiempo
- The platoon, with rock-laden packs, marches in double-time through the hilly terrain, crossing a group of locals.
- marching double time
Examples
-
He was not at all, not remotely, like the man who had taught her how to salute and polish her shoes, march double time around the yard, who had fought in a war before she was born and caught a bullet in his chest, and many years later left a note: "Try to think I never came back."
Fiction book (1990) -
The commander yelled for everyone to get to the base in double time after hearing the alarm.
-
A squad of soldiers running double time surrounded the car.
Fiction book (1991) -
As he watched, it opened and a dozen guardians marched out, moving at double time.
Fiction book (1992) -
The major could hear the patti-pat-pat of the mentot's feet as he seemed to be marching double time.
Fiction book (1991) -
"We don't know you," says Rhodes with contempt and turns his back on them, closing up the ranks and moving us out in double time.
Fiction book (1998) -
An O.S. cadence call—then, led by Wickwire, trainees double-time into the grinder, uniforms drenched from a beach run.
Fiction book (1997) -
The soldiers had to move at double time to complete the drill before sunset.
-
During the training exercise, they practiced marching in double time to improve their speed.
Synonyms
Very quick, as when soldiers march at twice the normal speed
Very fast, without delay
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'at twice the normal speed' is directly compositional from 'double' (twice/twofold) + 'time' (tempo/pace), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer the MWE's sense. Although 'time' can have a specialized musical sense, the notion of tempo/pace is common cross-linguistically and follows a regular English pattern (adjective + time → rate), making this expression transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
Double time comes from the military. When soldiers were told to move in double time, they took twice as many steps and moved like a fast march, so the phrase means 'a fast marching pace'.