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week

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a week from next Tuesday

An unspecified date or time far in the future, sometimes used to denote a time that will never come to pass. At this rate, it will be a week from next Tuesday before I'm ready to start writing this report. You can keep crying until a week from next Tuesday and I still won't buy you that new video game.

See also: next, Tuesday, week

a week is a long time in politics

Due to the fast-changing pace of the political landscape, the fortunes of a politician or political group can change drastically just in the course of a single week. The phrase is attributed to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, c. 1964. The challenger is enjoying a surge in popularity after the debate, but there's still time before the election, and a week is a long time in politics.

See also: long, politics, time, week

any day

No set or specific time or date; any time. I don't need the report back immediately, any day will do.

See also: any

hell week

A week in which new recruits or pledges of an organization, especially a college fraternity or sorority, are subjected to a series of hazing rituals prior to initiation. Why anyone would want to endure something as mean-spirited and juvenile as "hell week" just to join a frat is beyond me. I'm really eager to join Delta Gamma, but I'm really nervous about hell week!

See also: hell, week

flavor of the week

Something temporary. The phrase is often used to describe fleeting romantic relationships. I wouldn't get too attached to Katie, she's just Ralph's flavor of the week—they'll break up in no time. You change majors all the time, and Biology is just the flavor of the week, trust me!

See also: flavor, of, week

by the day

one day at a time. I don't know when I'll have to leave town, so I rent this room by the day.

by the week

one week at a time. I plan my schedules by the week. Where can I rent a room by the week?

See also: week

days running

 and weeks running; months running; years running

days in a series; months in a series; etc. (Follows a number.) I had a bad cold for five days running. For two years running, I brought work home from the office every night.

See also: days, running

inside a week

in less than a week. We must get all this sorted out inside a week; all right? We've got inside a week to get it right.

See also: inside, week

week in, week out

Fig. every week, week after week. We have the same old food, week in, week out. I'm tired of this job. I've done the same thing—week in, week out—for three years.

See also: out, week

week after week

repeatedly for many weeks The play was a smash hit, and I tried week after week to get tickets, but I still haven't seen it.

Related vocabulary: day after day

See also: after, week

week by week

every week Week by week, the child gained strength.

Related vocabulary: day by day

See also: week

have a face like a wet weekend

  (british informal) also have a face as long as a wet week (australian)

to look very unhappy He's had a face like a wet weekend all day.

See also: face, have, like, weekend, wet

any day

1. No particular time, as in It doesn't matter when; any day is fine with me.

2. Also, any day now. Quite soon, as in I might get a call any day, or There could be a snowstorm any day now.

3. Also, any day of the week. Every day, as in I could eat fresh corn any day of the week. All three senses employ any in the sense of "no matter which," a usage dating from a.d. 1000.

See also: any

by the day

Also, by the hour or week or month or year . According to a specific time period, as in I'm renting this car by the day, or He's being paid by the hour. This usage generally describes some kind of rate. [1400s]