over the course of
In or during the process of. Over the course of your employment in the company, were you ever aware or suspicious of any illicit financial activity going on? I learned over the course of the meeting that our department was being downsized by over 50 percent.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
in the course of
Also, during the course of. In the process or progress of, as in the famous phrase from the Declaration of Independence (1776), "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands ..." These phrases have been criticized as needlessly wordy ( in or during alone are adequate), but they have an emphatic rhythm that keeps them alive. [Mid-1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
in/over the course of...
(used with expressions for periods of time) during: He’s seen many changes in the course of his long life. ♢ The company faces some major challenges over the course of the next few years.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017