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arrive
arrive at
1. Literally, to reach a destination after traveling. What time are we supposed to arrive at Paul's? Because we got stuck in traffic, we arrived at the party late.
2. To reach a particular decision or understanding. I'm thrilled to announced that the committee has finally arrived at a consensus. Have the doctors arrived at a decision yet?
arrive (up)on the scene
1. To reach a destination, usually as something is happening there. When did the police arrive on the scene? By the time I arrived upon the scene, Kate and Jen were already arguing.
2. slang To come into existence or to be born. Funk music arrived on the scene in the 1960s. We are overjoyed to announced that our baby daughter arrived on the scene at 11:37 last night.
arrive (somewhere) (up)on the stroke of
To reach a destination at a specific time. ("Of" is followed by that time.) You must arrive home upon the stroke of 11, young lady. We arrived at the store on the stroke of nine, but the doors were already locked.
ahead of time
Earlier than a given deadline. If we get to the theater ahead of time, we'll have our pick of good seats. My term paper isn't due until next week, but I finished it ahead of time.
*ahead of one's time
Fig. having ideas or attitudes that are too advanced to be acceptable in the present. (*Typically: be ~; think ~.) Sue's grandmother was ahead of her time in wanting to study medicine.
*ahead of time
beforehand; before the announced time. (*Typically: arrive ~; get there ~; leave ~; show up ~.) If you show up ahead of time, you will have to wait. Be there ahead of time if you want to get a good seat.
arrive at a decision
and reach a decisionto make a decision; decide. Have you arrived at a decision yet? We will reach a decision tomorrow.
arrive back
(some place) Go to back (some place).
arrive
(some place) at some time to reach some place at a particular time. We will arrive at the border at noon. They arrived at seven o'clock in the evening.
arrive (somewhere) (up)on the stroke of some time
and arrive (somewhere) at the stroke of some timeto reach a place at a particular instant of time.(Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) She arrived home on the stroke of midnight. We all arrived at the stroke of two.
arrive (somewhere) (up)on the stroke of some time
and arrive (somewhere) at the stroke of some timeto reach a place at a particular instant of time. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) She arrived home on the stroke of midnight. We all arrived at the stroke of two.
arrive
(somewhere) at the stroke of some time Go to arrive (somewhere) (up)on the stroke of some time.
arrive (somewhere) (up)on the stroke of some time
and arrive (somewhere) at the stroke of some timeto reach a place at a particular instant of time. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) She arrived home on the stroke of midnight. We all arrived at the stroke of two.
arrive (up)on the scene (of something)
and arrive at the scene (of something)to reach the location of an event in progress. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on and at.) The police arrived on the scene of the crime. They arrived upon the scene of a frightening accident. What did they do when they arrived at the scene?
*back
(at someone) repaying someone for a bad deed. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) Tom called me a jerk, but I'll get back at him. I don't know how I'll get back for her insult, but I will.
*back (some place)
returned to some place; at some place again. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; arrive ~.) I can't wait till we get back home. When will we get back? Is it much farther?
come on the scene
and arrive on the scene 1. Lit. to arrive at a place. When we came on the scene, the ambulances were already there. The police arrived on the scene and began directing traffic.
2. Fig. to become part of a situation. She thought she was in love with Harry until Bob came on the scene.
have arrived
to have reached a position of power, authority, or prominence. Jane saw her picture on the cover of the magazine and felt that she had finally arrived. When I got an office with a window, I knew that I had arrived.
*in a body
Fig. as a group of people; as a group; in a group. (*Typically: arrive some place ~; go ~; leave ~; reach some place ~; travel ~.) The tour members always traveled in a body.
*in force
1. [of a rule or law] currently valid or in effect. (*Typically: be ~.) Is this rule in force now? The constitution is still in force.
2. Fig. in a very large group. (*Typically: arrive ~; attack ~.) The entire group arrived in force. The mosquitoes will attack in force this evening.
*in the (very) nick of time
Fig. just in time; at the last possible instant; just before it's too late. (*Typically: arrive ~; get there ~; happen ~; reach something ~; Save someone ~.) The doctor arrived in the nick of time. The patient's life was saved. I reached the airport in the very nick of time and made my flight.
It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
Prov. You should enjoy the process of doing something, rather than anticipate the result of doing it. Bill: I can't wait till I get my high school diploma. Fred: You should concentrate on enjoying high school instead. It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
*on a wing and a prayer
Fig. to arrive or fly in with one's plane in very bad condition. (Sometimes used fig. of other vehicles. *Typically: come (in) ~; arrive ~.) Finally we could see the plane through the smoke, coming in on a wing and a prayer.
arrive at something
to come to a decision or agreement about something after serious thought or discussion The town council needs to explain how they arrived at their plan for future development of the town.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of arrive at (to come to a place)
in force
in effect and in use
The law has been in force for two years. Usage notes: used when referring to laws, rules, agreements, and systems
(just) in the nick of time
at the last possible moment A man walking his dog saw her fall into the river and pulled her out just in the nick of time.
ahead of time
before something happens We'd better buy our tickets ahead of time if we want to avoid waiting in a long line.
ahead of your time
also before your time having very modern ideas The inventor was years ahead of his time in realizing the importance of being able to record sound. Taylor's ideas have been before his time on many occasions.
in the nick of time
at the last possible moment
Usage notes: A nick was a mark on a stick which was used in the past to measure time.
We got there just in the nick of time. A minute later and she'd have left. on a wing and a prayer
if you do something on a wing and a prayer, you do it hoping that you will succeed although you are not prepared enough for it With scarcely any funding and a staff of six, they operate on a wing and a prayer.
ahead of time
Earlier, sooner, as in The meeting was scheduled for three o'clock, but most people arrived ahead of time. [Early 1900s]
arrive at
Reach an objective, as in We arrived at the party right on time, or It took Harry only a few minutes to arrive at a solution. [Early 1500s]
in force
1. In full strength, in large numbers, as in Demonstrators were out in force. This usage originally alluded to a large military force. [Early 1300s]
2. Operative, binding, as in This rule is no longer in force. This usage originally alluded to the binding power of a law. [Late 1400s]
in the nick of time
Also,
just in time. At the last moment, as in
The police arrived in the nick of time, or
He got there just in time for dinner. The first term began life as
in the nick and dates from the 1500s, when
nick meant "the critical moment" (a meaning now obsolete). The second employs
just in the sense of "precisely" or "closely," a usage applied to time since the 1500s. Also see
in time, def. 1.
on the scene, be
Also, arrive or come on the scene . Be or arrive where an action or event occurs, as in They won't have a wild party because their parents will be on the scene, or Once Bob arrives on the scene, you can expect fireworks. Alluding to the theatrical scene, where a drama is being played, this phrase has been used more loosely since the early 1700s.
arrive at
v.1. To reach or come to some place: Because of the snowstorm, we arrived at the airport three hours late.
2. To come to some conclusion or decision: I think you're right, but how did you arrive at that answer?
back
n. one’s support or second in a fight. (From back-up.) I need a back I can depend on.
in force
1. In full strength; in large numbers: Demonstrators were out in force.
2. In effect; operative: a rule that is no longer in force.
in the nick of time
Just at the critical moment; just in time.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Gaia | | GAY-ə (English), GIE-ə (English), GAH-yah (Italian) | Greek Mythology, Italian |
| Josceline | | JAHS-lin, JAHS-ə-lin | English (Rare) |
| Ty | | TIE | English |
| Thandiwe | | - | Southern African, Xhosa |
| Ludger | | LUD-gər (Dutch) | German, Dutch |
| Joakim | | YO-ah-kim (Swedish), YO-ah-keem (Finnish) | Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Serbian, Macedonian |