For the time being
This is a good expression, and quite appropriate for days like this. The expression today is “for the time being.” What does “for the time being” mean? For the time being means, for a limited time. It really means that something is true now, and will remain true until circumstances change in the relatively near future.
We have to limit our movements for the time being. That means that we have to limit our movements now, and that will continue until things change. But things are expected to change. We don’t know when, but they will change. So for the time being, we’re staying home and only going out if it’s absolutely necessary.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the program, there are a lot of people who do still have to work outside the home, even now. Here in Chicago, those people can still rely on public transportation. That’s because our trains and buses are still running on a full schedule—at least for the time being.
Did you hear the way I used it there? I said, “at least for the time being.” That’s another popular way to use “for the time being.” When I say, “at least for the time being” I mean that something is true now, is expected to be true in the future, but all that may change if circumstances change.
The trains and buses are operating on a normal schedule, at least for the time being. It could be that in the future, there’s so little ridership that the transit agency moves to a permanent holiday schedule, with more time in between trains and buses. That’s possible: we don’t know. For the time being at least, they are running on a normal schedule.
We talked earlier about the importance of getting some physical movement, some exercise at home. One thing I didn’t mention earlier is that outdoor exercise is still a great idea. I sometimes forget that going for a walk or bike ride or something is possible in those parts of the world that are not really cold, like Chicago is. Every place is different, but many states in the US still allow people to get some exercise outdoors. You can go for a walk, a hike, or a bike ride. Many parks and nature trails are still open for the time being. That’s because if you go for a walk in the woods, you’re not touching many surfaces—if any—and you can easily stay six feet way from other people. For the time being, it’s possible to exercise outside.
Why do I say, for the time being? Well, in parts of Europe, including Italy, they actually have restricted movement outside the home. And it may turn out that state governments decide they can’t have emergency workers available to respond to calls in nature parks. They may decide that it’s not safe to have people out hiking in the woods, where there’s a risk of injury and no free hospital beds. But for the time being, going for a hike or a walk outside is still a good idea.
Quote of the week
It’s Monday, so I have a quote of the week for you. I was reminded of this quote when I was reading about the importance of maintaining good habits, of preserving some of your routines while in lockdown. And this is a fairly famous quote from a graduation speech by William McRaven. He is a retired Navy admiral, US Navy, and he led the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. He gave a graduation speech to the University of Texas in 2014 that quickly became one of the best and most-watched graduation speeches. More than ten million people have watched it on YouTube and Admiral McRaven later turned the major themes of the speech into a book.
Let me give you the quote and then I’ll put a little more context around it. Here’s the quote: “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed, will have turned into many tasks completed.”
There’s more to it than that; he develops the idea in the speech. But to summarize, doing small things well are important because they add up. They give you a sense of pride. They signal the importance you place on doing things the right way. Getting the small things right makes it easier to get the big things in life right. That’s an important thing to keep in mind these days. For you, it may or may not be making your bed. Maybe for you, it’s making breakfast; maybe it’s calling friends and family; maybe it’s going outside for a walk. Doing these small little things right help us get the big things right. I’ll link to this YouTube speech in the transcript of this lesson at PlainEnglish.com/246.
YouTube: University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address – Admiral William H. McRaven
Here it is one more time: “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed, will have turned into many tasks completed.”
That’s all for today’s audio lesson. Remember, the video lesson and the flash cards are available online at PlainEnglish.com/246 for those of you who are Plain English Plus+ members. And we’ll be back again on Thursday with another lesson. Stay safe out there!
¿Hablas español?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into Spanish. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
你说中国话？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parlez-vous français?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Você fala português?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
日本語は話せますか？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parli italiano?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sen Türkçe konuşmayı biliyor musun?
The transcripts of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Turkish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Mówisz po polsku?
The transcript of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Polish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visitPlainEnglish.com/sampleto see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships:Plain English Plus+andStarter. Choose a plan and get started today!
FAQs
What is the English expression from time to time? ›
Meaning. If you do something from time to time, you do it occasionally, but not very often.
What does enough for the time being mean? ›phrase. If something is the case or will happen for the time being, it is the case or will happen now, but only until something else becomes possible or happens.
What is the meaning of the expression all the time? ›1. : on every occasion : always. You can't be right all of the time. informal : very often or frequently. "Do you ever take the subway to work?" "Yeah, all the time."
What is an example of for the time being? ›For example
You can stay here for the time being, but you'll have to move out when you find your own place. My car is being repaired, so for the time being I'll have to use the bus.
They do the cleaning in the morning. He goes to bed late at night. We'll do the homework in the evening. She had a drink in the evening before she went to bed.
What are examples of sentences with time expressions? ›| Common Future Time Expressions | Example Sentences |
|---|---|
| tomorrow (one day after today) | I think I will go swimming tomorrow. |
| the day after tomorrow (two days after today) | Joy is moving the day after tomorrow. |
| next week (the week after this week) | Alice starts school next week. |
We're running out of time. I don't have enough time to complete this test. It's too late! We're out of time.
What is the meaning of he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough? ›Lao Tzu He Who Knows That Enough Is Enough Will Always Have Enough is an inspirational Taoism to encourage them to keep their calm, have contentment in what you have, spread kind acts.
Why do we say for the time being? ›For the time being means, for a limited time. It really means that something is true now, and will remain true until circumstances change in the relatively near future. We have to limit our movements for the time being. That means that we have to limit our movements now, and that will continue until things change.
What is the meaning of a means of expression? ›meanings of means and expression
the act of saying what you think or showing how you feel using words ...
Are expressions that have meanings different from what they actually say? ›
Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal language that have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression. Here's an example of an idiomatic expression: Hold your tongue. This idiom doesn't actually mean that you should stick your fingers in your mouth and grab a hold of your tongue.
What are words to describe being on time? ›- immediate.
- prompt.
- speedy.
- timely.
We call those types punctual. They'll check their watch when you arrive three minutes late. The word punctual originates from the Latin word punctualis, which means “a point.” To be punctual, you have to arrive at the right point in time.
What is another word for for the time being? ›| temporarily | briefly |
|---|---|
| momentarily | provisionally |
| fleetingly | for now |
| for the moment | in the interim |
| for the present | in the meanwhile |
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
You might want to tell him not to “put all of his eggs in one basket”. Most people probably keep their eggs in the fridge… but this expression is used when we want to caution others not to rely on just one opportunity - to keep their options open.
- The present – permanent. ...
- The present – temporary. ...
- Talking about a period of time in the past. ...
- Talking about a single event in the past. ...
- Sequencing events in the past. ...
- Other expressions to refer to the next event in a story. ...
- People who are no longer “around”
When something is “enough” it means that it is at a satisfactory level or quantity. The phrase “not enough” is obviously a negative form of that – and it shows that things are not satisfactory! For example: “There is not enough bread for the entire group to eat.”
What is the meaning of not enough in English? ›adjective. not sufficient; lacking in what is necessary or required: an insufficient answer. deficient in force, quality, or amount; inadequate: insufficient protection.
How do you use enough time in a sentence? ›Sentence examples for with enough time from inspiring English sources. That job leaves him with enough time to hatch new plans. They were not able to pull Vetter with enough time to make any difference. But with enough time and goodwill, and sufficient pressure on both sides, it could be done.
What are the different way of saying from time to time? ›On this page you'll find 25 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to from time to time, such as: ever so often, every now and then, every once in a while, infrequently, not often, and now and again.
What is one word from time to time? ›
Time connectives are words that join phrases or sentences together to help us understand when something is happening. Words such as before, after, next, just then, shortly, afterwards, last, eventually, firstly, secondly, and thirdly, are all-time connectives.
What are the 10 past time expressions? ›| last | ago | yesterday |
|---|---|---|
| last Sunday | an hour ago | yesterday morning |
| last week | three days ago | yesterday afternoon |
| last weekend | a week ago | yesterday evening |
| last year | a month ago | the day before yesterday |