B1idiomtimeIELTS-friendly
once upon a time
USUK
a phrase that begins a fairy tale, or means long ago
It opens fairy tales. In speech it can mean 'a long time ago' and often sounds a little ironic.
In context
Once upon a time there was a poor farmer who owned only one buffalo.
Once upon a time this street was all rice fields, my grandfather says.
More idioms about time
- a blast from the pastsomething or someone that suddenly reminds you of an earlier time
- a long time comingif something is a long time coming, people have waited a long time for it
- a matter of timecertain to happen, although you do not know exactly when
- a race against timea situation where you must hurry to finish before time runs out
- a sign of the timessomething that shows how society is now, often in a bad way