What is an idiomatic expression?
Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal English that have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression.
Meanings:
- finally; decisively; conclusively
- for the last time
- completely, for good
Let’s look at some real examples!
- He should act once and for all.
- This is not an issue that was settled once and for all.
- It would all be a huge waste of time and money and would prove once and for all that Britain was no longer top dog.
Nearby words:
- once again: It happens again.
- once and again: occasionally.
- once bitten, twice shy: when you want to indicate that someone will not do something a second time because they had a bad experience the first time they did it.
- once in a blue moon: very rarely; almost never
- once in a while: it happens sometimes, but not very often. Occasionally; now and then.
Some examples here:
- Now the two women are going into battle once again.
- I forgot to book an appointment once again.
- They meet for lunch once and again.
- Sales like this only happen once in a blue moon.
Now, it comes the hardest: Get ready and start incorporating this new expression in your day-to-day communications. Fingers crossed and good luck!