every now and then
Once in awhile
Every now and then means occasionally or from time to time—at irregular intervals that aren't frequent but aren't rare either.
Every now and then I'll treat myself to a nice dinner.
The phrase suggests something that happens sporadically rather than on any predictable schedule.
Interchangeable with every now and again.
- now and againAt irregular intervals
- occasionallyAt infrequent intervals
- sporadicallyAt irregular intervals
- off and onIntermittent in occurrence
- intermittentlyAt irregular intervals
once in a while · once in a blue moon · few and far between · rarely · from time to time · episodically · at times · irregularly · sometimes · periodically · uncommonly · seldom · infrequently · here and there · unpredictably · scarcely · fitfully · pause
- infrequencyrarely, seldom, infrequent, infrequently, occasionally
- time expressionsnow, today, soon, tomorrow, later
every now and thenconstantly
At all times
always · continuously · never · incessantly · perpetually
every now and thenlike clockwork
With precise regularity
regularly · on schedule · systematically · without fail · predictably
then, every, everyone, everywhere, nowhere, everlasting, nowadays, evermore, thence