For the time being | Meaning in English | Learn about English expressions
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For the time being
This is a good expression, and quite appropriate for days like this. The expression today is “for the time being.” What does “for the time being” mean? For the time being means, for a limited time. It really means that something is true now, and will remain true until circumstances change in the relatively near future.
We have to limit our movements for the time being. That means that we have to limit our movements now, and that will continue until things change. But things are expected to change. We don’t know when, but they will change. So for the time being, we’re staying home and only going out if it’s absolutely necessary.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the program, there are a lot of people who do still have to work outside the home, even now. Here in Chicago, those people can still rely on public transportation. That’s because our trains and buses are still running on a full schedule—at least for the time being.
Did you hear the way I used it there? I said, “at least for the time being.” That’s another popular way to use “for the time being.” When I say, “at least for the time being” I mean that something is true now, is expected to be true in the future, but all that may change if circumstances change.
The trains and buses are operating on a normal schedule, at least for the time being. It could be that in the future, there’s so little ridership that the transit agency moves to a permanent holiday schedule, with more time in between trains and buses. That’s possible: we don’t know. For the time being at least, they are running on a normal schedule.
We talked earlier about the importance of getting some physical movement, some exercise at home. One thing I didn’t mention earlier is that outdoor exercise is still a great idea. I sometimes forget that going for a walk or bike ride or something is possible in those parts of the world that are not really cold, like Chicago is. Every place is different, but many states in the US still allow people to get some exercise outdoors. You can go for a walk, a hike, or a bike ride. Many parks and nature trails are still open for the time being. That’s because if you go for a walk in the woods, you’re not touching many surfaces—if any—and you can easily stay six feet way from other people. For the time being, it’s possible to exercise outside.
Why do I say, for the time being? Well, in parts of Europe, including Italy, they actually have restricted movement outside the home. And it may turn out that state governments decide they can’t have emergency workers available to respond to calls in nature parks. They may decide that it’s not safe to have people out hiking in the woods, where there’s a risk of injury and no free hospital beds. But for the time being, going for a hike or a walk outside is still a good idea.
Quote of the week
It’s Monday, so I have a quote of the week for you. I was reminded of this quote when I was reading about the importance of maintaining good habits, of preserving some of your routines while in lockdown. And this is a fairly famous quote from a graduation speech by William McRaven. He is a retired Navy admiral, US Navy, and he led the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. He gave a graduation speech to the University of Texas in 2014 that quickly became one of the best and most-watched graduation speeches. More than ten million people have watched it on YouTube and Admiral McRaven later turned the major themes of the speech into a book.
Let me give you the quote and then I’ll put a little more context around it. Here’s the quote: “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed, will have turned into many tasks completed.”
There’s more to it than that; he develops the idea in the speech. But to summarize, doing small things well are important because they add up. They give you a sense of pride. They signal the importance you place on doing things the right way. Getting the small things right makes it easier to get the big things in life right. That’s an important thing to keep in mind these days. For you, it may or may not be making your bed. Maybe for you, it’s making breakfast; maybe it’s calling friends and family; maybe it’s going outside for a walk. Doing these small little things right help us get the big things right. I’ll link to this YouTube speech in the transcript of this lesson at PlainEnglish.com/246.
YouTube: University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address – Admiral William H. McRaven
Here it is one more time: “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed, will have turned into many tasks completed.”
That’s all for today’s audio lesson. Remember, the video lesson and the flash cards are available online at PlainEnglish.com/246 for those of you who are Plain English Plus+ members. And we’ll be back again on Thursday with another lesson. Stay safe out there!
¿Hablas español?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into Spanish. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
你说中国话？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parlez-vous français?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Você fala português?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
日本語は話せますか？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parli italiano?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sen Türkçe konuşmayı biliyor musun?
The transcripts of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Turkish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Mówisz po polsku?
The transcript of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Polish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines
are
powerful tools for communicating
in the
modern world
. However,
they often miss the context
and can either
mislead you
or
leave you confused
. Our
human translators
are here
to make sure that
you’re getting
not only the correct definition, but also the full context
.
How can I use the translations in my studies?
arein the. However,and can eitheror. Ourare hereyou’re getting
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I
access
the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
