while : Idioms & Phrases

Index

At whiles

  • at times; at intervals.
    And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim Powers that we dread. J. H. Newman.
Webster 1913

Breathing while

  • time sufficient for drawing breath; a short time. Shak.
Webster 1913

for a while

  • adverb for a short time
    awhile.
    • sit down and stay awhile
    • they settled awhile in Virginia before moving West
    • the baby was quiet for a while
WordNet

once in a while

  • adverb now and then or here and there
    on occasion; now and again; now and then; occasionally; at times; from time to time.
    • he was arrogant and occasionally callous
    • open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees
    • they visit New York on occasion
    • now and again she would take her favorite book from the shelf and read to us
    • as we drove along, the beautiful scenery now and then attracted his attention
WordNet

Paternoster while

  • the space of time required for repeating a paternoster. Udall.
Webster 1913

The while, The whiles

  • in or during the time that; meantime; while. Tennyson.
Webster 1913

The whiles

  • . See under While, n.
Webster 1913

While as, While that

  • during or at the time that. Obs.
Webster 1913

while away

  • verb spend or pass, as with boredom or in a pleasant manner; of time
    get through.
WordNet

Within a while

  • in a short time; soon.
Webster 1913

Worth while

  • worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense; as, it is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts.
Webster 1913

Worth while, ∨ Worth the while

  • . See under While, n.
Webster 1913