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leisure

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at (one's) leisure

Done according to one's own convenience or comfort. The tour group always gives us a couple free hours so we can explore each city at our leisure. There is no time limit to the exam, so please complete it at your leisure.

See also: leisure

at leisure

1. When one has the time to do something. In this usage, a possessive pronoun is used between "at" and "leisure." No rush, you can fill out that paperwork at your leisure

2. In a relaxed manner. I like to spend my weekends reading at leisure.

3. With free time; unoccupied. I just graduated from college—can't I spend some time at leisure?

See also: leisure

at leisure

 and at one's leisure

at one's convenience. Choose one or the other at your leisure. Please drop by at your leisure.

See also: leisure

busiest men have the most leisure

 and busiest men find the most time

Prov. Industrious people get their work done efficiently and therefore have time to do what they want. Fred: How does Phil do it? He produces more than the rest of us, but he also manages to pursue all his hobbies. Alan: The busiest men have the most leisure. As the town's only doctor, Bert worked extremely hard, yet he always had time to play with his children and go out with his wife. The busiest men find the most time.

See also: busy, have, leisure, men, most

busman's holiday leisure

time spent doing something similar to what one does at work. (Alludes to a bus driver going on a bus tour for his vacation or on a day off.) Tutoring students in the evening is a busman's holiday for our English teacher. It's a bit of a busman's holiday to ask her to be wardrobe mistress for our amateur production in the summer. She's a professional dressmaker.

See also: holiday, leisure

Idle people have the least leisure.

 and Idle folk have the least leisure.

Prov. If you are not energetic and hardworking, you will never have any free time, since you will have to spend all your time finishing your work. My grandmother always told me not to dawdle, since idle people have the least leisure.

See also: have, idle, least, leisure, people

Marry in haste, (and) repent at leisure.

Prov. If you marry someone you do not know well, or decide to marry someone without first carefully considering what you are doing, you will probably regret it for a long time. Sally wanted some time to consider Sam's proposal of marriage; she had heard the saying, "Marry in haste, and repent at leisure."

See also: leisure, marry

at (your) leisure

when you want to or are not busy at your convenience Make a video of the program and then you can watch it at your leisure. Understanding what must be done now and what can be done at leisure is an important skill to learn.

See also: leisure

Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

  (old-fashioned)

something that you say which means if you marry someone too soon, without knowing for certain that they are the right person for you, you will have an unhappy marriage It's true I've only known him for six months and I know you're thinking 'marry in haste, repent at leisure' but I'm telling you, he's the man for me.

See also: leisure, marry

at leisure

1. Slowly, without haste, as in the famous 16th-century proverb, Marry in haste and repent at leisure.

2. Unemployed, having free time, as in I'm not looking for another job right now; I want to be at leisure for at least a few months . This usage has become less common but is still heard. [1300s] Also see at one's leisure.

See also: leisure

at one's leisure

Whenever one wishes, at one's convenience, as in At your leisure, please look over this manuscript and give me your comments. [1400s] Also see at leisure.

See also: leisure

at (one's) leisure

When one has free time; at one's convenience: I'll return the call at my leisure.

See also: leisure