once upon a time
The phrase "once upon a time" is a classic opener for stories, especially fairy tales, signifying a distant past.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)Used to refer to a past period or occasion, often nostalgically or whimsically.
Example
- Once upon a time, I loved reading comics every day.
B2Storytelling
(traditional, narrative)An introductory phrase in stories, particularly fairy tales, indicating that events occurred in a distant or mythical past.
Example
- In many fairy tales, the story begins with 'once upon a time' to set the magical tone.
- Once upon a time, there was a kingdom ruled by a wise king.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "once upon a time":