no sooner a than b — Used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another; as soon as the first thing happens, the second follows
Part of speech: CONJUNCTION
Definition: Used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another; as soon as the first thing happens, the second follows
Pronunciation (IPA): /noʊ ˈsuːnər ə ðæn biː/
Example Sentences
- No sooner had the teacher left the classroom than the students started a paper airplane contest.
- No sooner had I put on my white shirt than I spilled coffee all over it.
- No sooner had the meeting ended than everyone rushed to the cafeteria.
no sooner a than b
CONJUNCTION[/noʊ ˈsuːnər ə ðæn biː/]
Used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another; as soon as the first thing happens, the second follows
Used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another; as soon as the first thing happens, the second follows
No sooner does rain fall than the tuner calls!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase developed in Middle English as a comparative construction combining the negation 'no' with 'sooner,' the comparative form of 'soon' (from Old English 'sona,' meaning immediately). Originally expressing 'not sooner than,' the idiom evolved into a fixed expression meaning 'immediately upon' or 'as soon as,' used to describe two actions occurring in rapid succession.
Breakdown
no- (negation) + sooner (comparative of soon, from Old English sona meaning immediately) + than (comparison particle). The construction 'no sooner...than' combines these elements to create a temporal conjunction indicating that one event happens immediately after another.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“No sooner had the teacher left the classroom than the students started a paper airplane contest.”
“No sooner had I put on my white shirt than I spilled coffee all over it.”
“No sooner had the meeting ended than everyone rushed to the cafeteria.”
“No sooner had I fallen asleep than my neighbor started playing loud music.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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