once

Phrases

all at once

• 1suddenly:all at once the noise stopped

• 2all at the same time: a lot of beans are ready all at once

at once

• 1immediately:I fell asleep at once

• 2at the same time; simultaneously:computers that can do many things at once

for once (or this once)

on this occasion only, as an exception:I hope you’ll forgive me this once

once a ——, always a ——

proverb a person cannot change their fundamental nature:once a whinger, always a whinger

once again (or more)

one more time.

once and for all (or once for all)

now and for the last time; finally.

once and future

denoting someone or something that is eternal or enduring: side two contains four once and future hit singles

[ 1950s: from T. H. White's Once and Future King (1958)]

once bitten, twice shy

see bite.

once (or every once) in a while

from time to time; occasionally.

once or twice

a few times.

once upon a time

at some time in the past (used as a conventional opening of a story).

formerly:once upon a time she would have been jealous, but no longer