Have you heard a newscaster say, ‘until next time’, and you’re wondering what it means? Or did a friend say, ‘until next time’ when the two of you were parting ways? In this article, we’ll explore the definition, meaning, and examples of this idiom.
In short, ‘until next time’ is a friendly and casual way of saying goodbye. This is a closing expression that literally means ‘goodbye until the next time we meet/speak,’ but it can also be used as a kind way to part ways even when you don’t expect to see each other again.
‘Until the next time’ is a phrase that is used as a closing expression or when saying goodbye to someone that you expect or hope to see again.
In its literal definition, it means ‘goodbye until the next occasion that we meet.’ It is used as a casual way to part ways with someone that doesn’t necessarily imply that you will actually see each other again.
For example, a news anchor or podcaster might end their show with ‘until next time’ even though there is no expectation that you will meet in person. That being said, it does communicate a level of informality and friendliness, implying an amicable relationship with the other person.
In some instances, ‘until next time’ might be used when two people don’t know when they will see each other again. In this case, it communicates a sense that they would like there to be a ‘next time’ that they see each other, but that circumstances might prevent them from actually meeting up again in the near future.
As an example, let’s say that your friend is heading off to college and getting on a train to go to another city far away. Even though you aren’t sure when you’re going to be able to see each other in person again, you might say, ‘until next time!’ before they leave on their journey.
This is an example of a ‘valediction,’ which is a word or phrase used in the act of bidding farewell. Valediction is also the word used to describe words or phrases used to sign off in letters, emails, and messages.
Since ‘until next time’ is a way of saying goodbye, it is almost always used when parting ways with someone or otherwise ending a communication. Let’s look at some examples in sentences to help you learn how you can incorporate the idiom into your writing and speech.
The idiom ‘until next time’ is a casual and friendly way of saying goodbye to another person or a group of people. There are many other English valedictions you can use that carry a similar tone, including:
There are thousands of fun and interesting English idioms that you can learn to add color and depth to your vocabulary. Be sure to check out our idioms blog to help you improve and enrich your English.
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