once in a while
427
1.6
- idiom
:
de vez en cuando
- Well, every once in a while what can happen is they split.
- get once in a while
- happen once in a while
- visit once in a while
They're going to simmer and once in a while they will create something new.
- They're going to simmer and once in a while they will create something new.
- You got to play some bad notes once in a while and maybe not play so smooth.
- I'm suggesting every once in a while turn it off and watch what happens.
- And every once in a while they'll fire shots across the border with India.
- I want to embrace them directly once in a while.
- And so I do get glimpses of that once in a while.
- But because these bets are not sure things, once in a while this gambler is going to lose.
- I think it's pretty important once in a while.
- That doesn't mean I don't enjoy some bacon once in a while or some pork once in a while.
Examples
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It's kinda nice to slow down every once in a while.
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Once in a while, we like to treat ourselves to dinner at a nice restaurant.
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Now if the prices of these things move once in a while, so be it.
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And you know, once in a while I get to say a few things.
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At least I get out of the house every once in a while.
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And every once in a while, she types a letter.
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So my next tip is to treat yourself once in a while, not all the time.
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Because every once in a while, you find that there's a moment... when life really is perfect.
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I do get sad once in a while because I've been living alone for about three years.
Academic text (2016) -
I think that's why we need someone like you, maybe to step in every once in a while.
Academic text (2015)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
On some occasions but not always
539
1.0
Happens only a few times
451
1.0
Happens sometimes but not often
438
2.0
Happens sometimes but not often
285
1.0
Happens sometimes but not very often
267
1.4
Happens sometimes but not regularly
137
2.0
Sometimes, not very often
122
1.7
Not happening or done very often
88
1.6
Happens one or two times, not often
79
1.7
It happens sometimes but not very often
73
2.0
Happens sometimes but not regularly
54
2.3
Happens sometimes but not very often
41
2.4
Happens sometimes, but not very often
30
2.5
Happens sometimes but not regularly
16
5.0
Happening only sometimes
6
5.0
Happens very rarely
Not happening often
How Often
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'occasionally' is directly derivable from the parts: 'once' (one time) combined with 'in a while' (within a span of time) signals that something happens at infrequent intervals. This is a compositional, cross-linguistically familiar temporal pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Once in a while shows a clear picture: something happens once during a while, a period of time, like a small treat you give yourself one time in a busy month. So, it means 'occasionally' or 'from time to time'.