Also used:
Every now and again
Now and then
Now and again
Meaning of Idiom ‘Every Now and Then’
Every now and then means sometimes; occasionally; periodically; or infrequently.
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Examples Of Use
“I stopped smoking ten years ago but every now and then I still crave a cigarette.”
“Do you ever see Uncle Joe? I don’t even know where he lives.” “Oh, we talk every now and again. He’s doing fine.”
“I go out to eat every now and then but I really like a good home-cooked meal.”
“My ex-wife and I are still good friends. We get together for lunch now and then.”
Usage
This idiom has several synonyms which can be used interchangeably:
Once in a while,
Every once in a while,
From time to time
Every so often
Note that the idiom once in a blue moon is often listed as a synonym for these idioms, but while the present idioms mean sometimes, once in a blue mean actually means, hardly ever.
A similar idiom is ‘on the odd occasion’ which means at various times but not regularly. “On the odd occasion when I want something sweet, I usually go for a chocolate bar.”
Origin
Used since the first half of the 1700s.
More Idioms Starting with E
- Every Little Thing
- Even a Broken Clock Is Right Twice a Day
- Every Name in the Book, been called
- Egg On
- Egg On Your Face, to have
More Again Idioms
More Every Idioms
- Every Little Thing
- Every Name in the Book, been called
- Every Nook and Cranny
- Every Time One Turns Around
- Each And Every One (Every Last One, Every Single One)
More Now Idioms
More Then Idioms