once upon a time
Also found in: Acronyms, Wikipedia.
once upon a time
A long time ago in the past. Used predominantly as a clichéd opening to fairy tales or stories for young children. Once upon a time, there lived a princess who was training to be a fearsome warrior. Even I was young once upon a time, if you can believe that.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
once upon a time
Cliché once in the past. (A formula used to begin a fairy tale.) Once upon a time, there were three bears. Once upon a time, I had a puppy of my own.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
once upon a time
On some past occasion, as in I may have sung this piece once upon a time, but I don't really remember it. This phrase, first recorded in 1595, is frequently used as the opening line of fairy tales and stories told to children, as in Once upon a time there was a king who had three beautiful daughters.
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.
once upon a time
1 at some time in the past (used as a conventional opening of a story). 2 formerly.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌonce upon a ˈtime
used, especially at the beginning of children’s stories, to mean ‘a long time in the past’: Once upon a time in a faraway land there lived a princess in a big castle.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017