Meaning of Idiom 'Time and Again'

The idiom "time and again" means repeatedly or on multiple occasions. It is used to indicate that something happens frequently or habitually. An example of how this idiom might be used in a sentence would be: "I have told you time and again to be careful when handling sharp objects." This sentence implies that the speaker has warned the listener multiple times to be cautious with sharp objects.

You can use the idiom "time and again" when you want to indicate that something happens repeatedly or on multiple occasions. It is often used to express that an action or event has occurred multiple times in the past and is likely to occur again in the future. For example, you can use this idiom in situations like:

1. To emphasize the frequency of a particular behavior or action
2. To express annoyance or frustration with something that keeps happening repeatedly
3. To express that something has been proven true or successful multiple times in the past.

It is also used to indicate that the person has been reminded or warned about something multiple times in the past.

It's important to note that this idiom is often used in formal or written contexts, It can be used in any context, to indicate something happens repeatedly.

Here are more sample sentences using this idiom:

1. I've told you time and again to be more punctual, yet you still arrive late.
2. He's been warned time and again about his reckless driving, but he still refuses to change his ways.
3. She's been successful time and again in her business ventures.
4. Time and again, history has shown that greed leads to downfall.
5. I've tried to fix the leaky faucet time and again, but it still drips.
6. Time and again, I've seen the importance of hard work and perseverance.
7. The company has been criticized time and again for their lack of diversity in the workplace.
8. Time and again, we've seen that investing in education leads to a brighter future.
9. Despite being told time and again, he still forgets to lock the door when he leaves.
10. I've heard time and again that practice makes perfect, and I believe it's true.

The origin of the idiom "time and again" is not clear. It is likely that the phrase has been in use for a long time and has evolved over time. The phrase "time and again" has been used in English literature since the 16th century, and it has been used in its current idiomatic sense since at least the early 19th century.

The phrase "time and again" is made up of two words, "time" and "again". "Time" refers to a specific period of time, while "again" means "once more" or "back". Together, they convey the idea of something happening repeatedly over a period of time.

The phrase "time and again" is similar to other idiomatic phrases such as "over and over again" and "again and again" which also convey the idea of repetition.

It is worth noting that the phrase "time and again" is not limited to the English language, similar phrases exist in other languages, such as "tout le temps" in French or "una y otra vez" in Spanish.