with perfect timing

USAGE SUMMARY

"with perfect timing" is a correct and common phrase in written English.
It means something happened at the most opportune or suitable moment. Example: "She walked into the interview with perfect timing, just as the interviewer finished reading her impressive resume."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With perfect timing, the train hissed loudly.

The New York Times

The two came together with perfect timing.

The Guardian - Sport

Indeed, whenever I hit a barrier, fate smiled with perfect timing.

The Guardian - Travel

and, with perfect timing, uses a mild expletive to describe his parents.

The New York Times - Arts

He jumped in front of receiver Keenan Howry with perfect timing.

The New York Times - Sports

We just arrived!'" With perfect timing, Terje interjects: "That's how we should have done this concert.

The Guardian - Music

Not only does he stoke controversy, he does so with perfect timing for the conservative movement.

The New York Times

With perfect timing, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has done some sums.

The Guardian

It was Woodson, perhaps with perfect timing, who called Wallace in May.

The New York Times

With perfect timing, Harold Pinter's Betrayal has been revived in London.

Independent

Mr. Mandel of MediaCom then interjected with perfect timing, "Which is why we did the deals in the afternoon".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with perfect timing" to emphasize the fortunate or planned synchronization of an event. Ensure the context clearly indicates the relevance and benefit of the timing.

Common error

Avoid using "with perfect timing" when the timing is merely coincidental or doesn't significantly impact the situation. The phrase loses its impact if the timing isn't genuinely crucial or well-coordinated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with perfect timing" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred. Ludwig examples show it describing the fortunate or deliberate synchronization of an event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with perfect timing" is a grammatically correct and very common adverbial phrase used to emphasize that something happened at the most opportune or suitable moment. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase follows standard English grammar rules. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, often highlighting fortunate or well-coordinated events. While it can be used literally to describe precision, it can also be used ironically to emphasize particularly bad timing. When writing, ensure the context supports the idea that the timing was genuinely crucial and beneficial. If not, consider alternatives like "at the opportune moment" or "in the nick of time" to convey a more appropriate nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the opportune moment

Focuses on the suitability of the moment rather than the precision of timing.

at just the right moment

Emphasizes correctness and suitability of the timing.

at the ideal time

Highlights that the timing was the best possible.

in the nick of time

Implies that something happened just before it was too late.

fortuitously

Highlights the element of chance or luck involved.

advantageously

Focuses on the beneficial nature of the timing.

auspiciously

Implies that the timing was favorable and promising.

providentially

Suggests the timing was divinely ordained or fortunate.

strategically timed

Emphasizes the deliberate planning behind the timing.

coincidentally

Highlights the accidental nature of the timing.

FAQs

How can I use "with perfect timing" in a sentence?

Use "with perfect timing" to describe an event that happened at the most opportune or suitable moment. For example, "The rescue team arrived "with perfect timing", just as the building was about to collapse."

What are some alternatives to "with perfect timing"?

Alternatives include "at the opportune moment", "at just the right moment", or "in the nick of time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "with perfect timing" or "perfectly timed"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""with perfect timing"" often emphasizes the process or sequence of events, while "perfectly timed" describes the result or quality of the timing itself. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you wish to convey.

Can "with perfect timing" be used in negative contexts?

While less common, "with perfect timing" can be used ironically in negative contexts to highlight an unfortunate or disastrous event that occurred at the worst possible moment. For example, "With perfect timing, the power went out during the most critical part of the surgery."