English

Prepositional phrase

for a change

1. (idiomatic) As a departure from the usual.
   • 1889, Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog),

     He had had a hard time in the City, so he explained. Harris, who is callous in his nature, and not prone to pity, said:

     "Ah! and now you are going to have a hard time on the river for a change; change is good for everyone. Out you get!"

   • 1913, Joe Hill, There Is Power in a Union,

     If you've had "nuff" of "the blood of the lamb,"

     Then join in the grand Industrial band;

     If, for a change, you would have eggs and ham,

     Then come! Do your share, like a man.

   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence,

     "I've supported her for seventeen years. Why shouldn't she support herself for a change?"

   • 1931, Robert E. Howard, The TNT Punch (alternate titles: The Waterfront Law, and The Waterfront Wallop),

     "... But I ain't all softness and mush--feel this here for a change!"

     And I closed the Kid's eye with a smashing left hander.

   • 1993 February 17, Bill Clinton, speech, William Jefferson Clinton's First State of the Union Address,

     I'd like to use that Superfund to clean up pollution for a change and not just pay lawyers.

Synonyms

• (as a departure from the usual): for once

Translations