spare the time

USAGE SUMMARY

"spare the time" is accurate and appropriate for use in written English.
For example, you could say, "I try to spare the time to do volunteer work every week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the meantime policymakers might spare the time to watch "Grounded".

The Economist

"We want to put on a good show," Julia explained, "and we just can't spare the time".

The New Yorker

As soon as Gould can spare the time he'll come to N. Y. and try it out.

The New Yorker

(Obama voted against Roberts, too, but the Chief Justice managed to spare the time to welcome Obama).

The New Yorker

But if you can spare the time, discovering how to navigate a foreign culture can breed self-confidence.

The New York Times - Travel

If Jacqueline Osherow could spare the time to be stranded there with me, that would be just excellent.

The Guardian - Opinion

Anyone with a reasonably busy lifestyle probably can't spare the time to indulge in them and wouldn't see the point.

The Guardian - Opinion

Observe calibrated reactions by candidates Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt, if they can spare the time to be there.

The New York Times

Haw himself was puzzled that so few others could spare the time to come to Parliament Square.

The Guardian

Some could no longer afford the tuition; others could not spare the time away from low-wage jobs they have taken to make ends meet.

The New York Times

Maybe a rain jacket or, for those who feel they can spare the time it takes to open and close one, an umbrella.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone to do something, using "spare the time" politely acknowledges their potential busyness and shows consideration for their schedule.

Common error

Avoid using "spare the time" in highly formal documents like legal contracts. More appropriate terms like "allocate time" or "dedicate time" would be preferable in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spare the time" functions as an idiom requesting or suggesting the allocation of time for a specific activity. It commonly appears in questions or conditional statements asking if someone can dedicate time, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spare the time" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase to inquire about someone's availability or suggest dedicating time for a task. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's appropriate in many contexts, particularly in news and media, with a neutral register. To ensure clarity and effectiveness, consider the context's formality and choose alternative expressions like "make time" or "allocate time" when necessary. Be mindful of overusing the phrase in very formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make time

Focuses on the active effort of creating availability in one's schedule.

find the time

Highlights the act of discovering or locating available time within a busy schedule.

set aside time

Emphasizes the deliberate allocation of a specific time block for a purpose.

afford the time

Indicates having the resources or capacity to allocate time without negative consequences.

have time to

A general way of expressing the availability of time for something.

dedicate time

Implies a more serious or committed allocation of time for a specific purpose.

allocate time

Similar to dedicate time but focuses on formal or structured distribution of time.

free up time

Suggests creating available time by removing other commitments or tasks.

manage to find time

Highlights the success in securing the time for an activity even when time is scarce.

take the time

Emphasizes utilizing available time or making sure something is done and not rushed.

FAQs

How can I use "spare the time" in a sentence?

You can use "spare the time" when asking someone if they have enough time to do something, such as, "Could you "spare the time" to review this report?" or "If you can "spare the time", please attend the meeting."

What does it mean to "spare the time"?

To "spare the time" means to be able to dedicate some of your time to a particular task or activity. It implies that you have enough time available in your schedule to do something without being too rushed or overburdened.

What can I say instead of "spare the time"?

You can use alternatives like "make time", "find the time", or "set aside time" depending on the specific context.

Is "spare the time" a formal or informal expression?

"Spare the time" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for most everyday situations. However, in very formal or technical contexts, using terms like "allocate time" or "dedicate time" might be more appropriate.