on occasion
偶爾,有時,間或,必要時
Oc·ca·sion n.
1. A falling out, happening, or coming to pass; hence, that which falls out or happens; occurrence; incident; event.
The unlooked-for incidents of family history, and its hidden excitements, and its arduous occasions. --I. Taylor.
2. A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance; convenience.
Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me. --Rom. vii. 11.
I'll take the occasion which he gives to bring
Him to his death. --Waller.
3. An occurrence or condition of affairs which brings with it some unlooked-for event; that which incidentally brings to pass an event, without being its efficient cause or sufficient reason; accidental or incidental cause.
Her beauty was the occasion of the war. --Dryden.
4. Need; exigency; requirement; necessity; as, I have no occasion for firearms.
After we have served ourselves and our own occasions. --Jer. Taylor.
When my occasions took me into France. --Burke.
5. A reason or excuse; a motive; a persuasion.
Whose manner was, all passengers to stay,
And entertain with her occasions sly. --Spenser.
On occasion, (a) in case of need; in necessity; as convenience requires. “That we might have intelligence from him on occasion,” -- (b) occasionally; from time to time; now and then.
Syn: -- Need; incident; use. See Opportunity.
on occasion
adv : now and then or here and there; "he was arrogant and
occasionally callous"; "open areas are only
occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "they
visit New York on occasion"; "now and again she would
take her favorite book from the shelf and read to us";
"as we drove along, the beautiful scenery now and then
attracted his attention" [syn: occasionally, once in
a while, now and then, now and again, at times,
from time to time]