sooner

would sooner

Would rather. Often used to show one's disgust or displeasure with a potential event, outcome, or course of action. I would sooner join the nunnery than go on another date with John! His arrogance was positively repulsive! Susie just has no interest in softball this year. I think she would sooner spend her afternoons at the library than on the field.See also: sooner

easier said than done

It is easy to say that one can or will do something, but is much more difficult to actually do it. You vowed to double the amount of last year's donations? Easier said than done. I know you're confident in your idea, but starting a company from the ground up is easier said than done.See also: done, easy, said

no sooner (do something) than (do something else)

One action had just concluded when something else happened or began. No sooner had I wrapped up the meeting than everyone bolted from their seats. She had no sooner taken the meal out of the oven than someone started knocking at the door.See also: no, something, sooner

no sooner said than done

Right away; immediately. A: "Jan, I need you to reorganize the store room." B: "No sooner said than done, boss."See also: done, no, said, sooner

sooner or later

Eventually at some point in the future, whether soon or at a later point in time. They're going to find out sooner or later, so you might as well tell them now. Sooner or later we'll need to start investing in the city's outdated infrastructure.See also: later, sooner

sooner rather than later

As soon or quickly as possible; closer to now than a later time or date. I'd rather we have the meeting sooner rather than later so we can finalize the project details. Can we fill out that application tonight? I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later.See also: later, rather, sooner

the sooner the better

As soon as possible; right away. Please have compile a report of all our financials from the last two quarters, the sooner the better.See also: better, sooner

had rather

Would prefer (to do something); would be more inclined or willing (to do something). I had rather not talk to you right now. I had rather go see a movie, to be honest, but we can go dancing if you like.See also: rather

had sooner

Would prefer (to do something); would be more inclined or willing (to do something). I had sooner not talk to you right now.See also: sooner

not if I see you first

I'll try to avoid talking to you if I spot you first the next time we cross paths. A (usually) humorous reply to a farewell of "see you later," "see you soon," etc. A: "It was great catching up, but I'd better get going. See you again soon!" B: "Not if I see you first! Ha ha, just joking." "OK, see you tomorrow!" she called out in her shrill, whining voice. "Not if I see you first," I muttered to myself.See also: first, if, not, see

not if I see you sooner

I'll try to avoid talking to you if I spot you first the next time we cross paths. A (usually) humorous reply to a farewell of "see you later" or "see you soon." A: "It was great catching up, but I'd better get going. See you again soon!" B: "Not if I see you sooner! Ha ha, just joking." "OK, see you tomorrow!" she called out in her shrill, whining voice. "Not if I see you sooner," I muttered to myself.See also: if, not, see, sooner

sooner than you think

Sooner or earlier than is expected; sooner rather than later. The actor said the next film in the popular franchise would be coming sooner than you think. A: "I heard there's going to be a round of layoffs coming in the future." B: "From what I've heard, it'll be sooner than you think."See also: sooner, think

easier said than done

Cliché said of a task that is easier to talk about than to do. Yes, we must find a cure for cancer, but it's easier said than done. Finding a good job is easier said than done.See also: done, easy, said

had rather do something

and had sooner do somethingprefer to do something. (The had is usually expressed as the contraction, 'd.) I'd rather go to town than sit here all evening. They'd rather not.See also: rather

no sooner said than done

an expression indicating that something has been done quickly and obediently. Jill: Can I help you out? Jane: Yes! Put these files in alphabetical order. Jill: No sooner said than done. The service at the hotel was really remarkable. Everything we asked for was no sooner said than done.See also: done, no, said, sooner

Not if I see you sooner, and Not if I see you first.

Inf. a response to I'll see you later. (This means you will not see me if I see you first, because I will avoid you.) Tom: See you later. Mary: Not if I see you sooner. John: Okay. If you want to argue, I'll just leave. See you later. Mary: Not if I see you first.See also: and, first, if, not, see

sooner or later

eventually; in the short term or in the long term. He'll have to pay the bill sooner or later. she'll get what she deserves sooner or later.See also: later, sooner

sooner than you think

an expression stating that something will happen sooner than a time expected or just mentioned. Sally: I'm going to have to stop pretty soon for a rest. Mary: Sooner than you think, I'd say. I think one of our tires is low. Tom: The stock market is bound to run out of steam pretty soon. Bob: Sooner than you think from the look of today's news.See also: sooner, think

sooner the better

The sooner something [referred to] gets done, the better things will be. Bob: When do you need this? Mary: The sooner the better. Bob: Please get the oil changed in the station wagon. The sooner the better. Alice: I'll do it today.See also: better, sooner

easier said than done

Also, more easily said than done. Describing something more readily talked about than accomplished, as in Keeping the cats off the sofa is easier said than done. This expression also was put as sooner or better said than done . Today, the variant ( more easily) is still heard less often than the original. [c. 1450] See also: done, easy, said

had rather

Also, had sooner. Would prefer. For example, I had rather you let me do the driving, or He'd sooner switch than fight. This idiom today is often replaced by would rather. [Late 1500s] Also see just as soon. See also: rather

no sooner said than done

Accomplished immediately, as in He said we should leave and, no sooner said than done. This expression employs no sooner ... than in the sense of "at once," a usage dating from the mid-1500s. See also: done, no, said, sooner

sooner or later

Eventually, at some unspecified future time, as in Sooner or later we'll have to answer that letter, or It's bound to stop raining sooner or later. This term, which generally implies that some future event is certain to happen, was first recorded in 1577. See also: later, sooner

sooner the better, the

As quickly or early as possible, as in As for stopping that check, the sooner the better. This idiom was first recorded in 1477. See also: sooner

easier said than done

COMMON If you say that something is easier said than done, you mean that although it sounds like a good idea, you think it would be difficult to actually do it. `If you're not happy with yourself, then change.' Easier said than done, Alex thought. The alternative option is to scrap the unwanted machines, and use the metal for some other purpose. But this, too, is easier said than done.See also: done, easy, said

easier said than done

more easily talked about than put into practice.See also: done, easy, said

ˌeasier ˌsaid than ˈdone

(saying) it is easier to suggest doing something than actually to do it: ‘All you have to do is climb a ladder and mend the roof.’ ‘Easier said than done — I’m terrified of heights!’See also: done, easy, said

no ˌsooner ˌsaid than ˈdone

(of a request) done immediately: When he said he wanted to go to the zoo on his birthday it was no sooner said than done.See also: done, no, said, sooner

no sooner...than...

(written) used to show that one thing, which is unexpected, happens immediately after another thing: No sooner had she got in the bath than the front door bell rang.See also: no

the ˌsooner the ˈbetter

very soon; as soon as possible: ‘When shall I tell him?’ ‘The sooner the better.’See also: better, sooner

ˌsooner or ˈlater

at some time in the future, even if you are not sure exactly when: The police will find him sooner or later.See also: later, sooner

ˌsooner rather than ˈlater

after a short time rather than after a long time: We urged them to sort out the problem sooner rather than later.See also: later, rather, sooner

I, etc. would sooner do something (than something else)

I, etc. would prefer to do something (than do something else): She’d sooner share a house with other students than live at home with her parents.See also: something, sooner

no sooner ... than

As soon as: No sooner was the frost off the ground than the work began.See also: no, sooner

sooner or later

At some time; eventually: Sooner or later you will have to face the facts.See also: later, sooner

easier said than done

Describing something that is more readily talked about than accomplished. This expression dates back as far as the fifteenth century, when it appeared in several sources, including the Vulgate (Latin) Bible. It was sometimes put as sooner or better said than done; the latter appears in John Heywood’s 1546 collection of English proverbs.See also: done, easy, said

no sooner said than done

Carried out immediately. This hyperbolic statement dates from Roman times, when it was put Dictum factumque facit frux (by Ennius in Annals, ca. 180 b.c.). Erasmus in Adagia (1508) had Simul et dictum et factum, “At the same time said and done,” and the precise English wording appeared about one and a half centuries later, in Head and Kirkman’s The English Rogue (1671).See also: done, no, said, sooner

sooner or later

At some future time or other; eventually. This expression dates from the sixteenth century and has long been a cliché. Joseph Addison used it in The Spectator in 1712: “The dying Man is one whom, sooner or later, we shall certainly resemble.”See also: later, sooner

sooner

soon·er

sooner

soon•er

Soon•er

sooner

sooner

sooner

would sooner

easier said than done

no sooner (do something) than (do something else)

no sooner said than done

sooner or later

sooner rather than later

the sooner the better

had rather

had sooner

not if I see you first

not if I see you sooner

sooner than you think

easier said than done

had rather do something

no sooner said than done

Not if I see you sooner, and Not if I see you first.

sooner or later

sooner than you think

sooner the better

easier said than done

had rather

no sooner said than done

sooner or later

sooner the better, the

easier said than done

easier said than done

ˌeasier ˌsaid than ˈdone

no ˌsooner ˌsaid than ˈdone

no sooner...than...

the ˌsooner the ˈbetter

ˌsooner or ˈlater

ˌsooner rather than ˈlater

I, etc. would sooner do something (than something else)

no sooner ... than

sooner or later

easier said than done

no sooner said than done

sooner or later

Sooner

Synonyms for Sooner

adv earlier

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adv rather

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Synonyms for Sooner

noun a native or resident of Oklahoma

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Related Words

adv comparatives of 'soon' or 'early'

Synonyms

adv more readily or willingly

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