any time soon: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘any time soon’ mean?
The idiom any time soon means in the near future or within a relatively short period.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "just a minute" is used to politely ask for a short delay or to indicate that something will be done shortly. It is a common phrase used in everyday conversations to express the need for a brief moment of time.
The idiom "it's about time" is used to express that something should have happened sooner or that someone is overdue for a certain action or event.
The idiom "in the offing" means something is likely to happen or is about to occur, especially in the near future.
The idiom "in the here and now" means focusing on the present moment and not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
The idiom "in the blink of an eye" means something happening extremely quickly or instantaneously.
The idiom "in no time" means very quickly or without delay, suggesting that something will be completed or happen in a short period of time.
The idiom "in a flash" means doing something very quickly or almost instantly.
The idiom "high time" means that something should have happened or should be done immediately, as it is already late or long overdue.
The idiom "from time to time" means occasionally or at intervals, not frequently. It implies that something happens occasionally, but not on a regular basis.
The idiom "for the time being" means temporarily or for now, referring to a situation that is not permanent.
Elusive Promises: Illusion of Imminence
The phrase "any time now" is a related idiom that is often used interchangeably with "any time soon." Both phrases convey a sense of expectation or anticipation regarding a future event. When someone says "the results will be announced any time now," they mean that the announcement is expected to happen very soon, without specifying an exact time or date.
Another related idiom is "about to." This phrase is used to indicate that something is on the verge of happening or is very likely to happen in the near future. For example, someone might say "I'm about to leave" to indicate that they are getting ready to leave at that moment.
"as soon as" is another phrase that is often used in conjunction with "any time soon." It is used to indicate that something will happen immediately or without delay once a certain condition is met. For example, someone might say "I'll call you as soon as I get home" to convey that they will call as soon as they arrive at their house.
Lastly, the idiom "in no time" is also related to "any time soon." It is used to indicate that something will happen very quickly or without much delay. For example, someone might say "I'll finish this task in no time" to suggest that they will complete the task quickly and efficiently.
The idiom "any time soon" is a commonly used phrase in the English language that conveys a sense of expectation or anticipation regarding a future event. It is often used interchangeably with phrases like "any time now" and is related to idioms such as "about to," "as soon as," and "in no time." These idioms all emphasize the concept of time and convey a sense of immediacy or probability regarding future events.
Example usage
Examples:
- I don't think he will be ready for a promotion any time soon.
- Don't expect prices to come down any time soon.
- She's not planning to retire any time soon.
More "Future" idioms
