time of asking

English

Etymology

From the formula for the banns of marriage. English law requires that forthcoming marriages be announced to the congregation at 3 church services, followed by "if any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons may not be joined together in holy matrimony, ye are to declare it. "This is for the nth time of asking".

Noun

time of asking (plural times of asking)

1. (usually prefixed by an ordinal) A repeated occurrence or event.
   • 2012 April 29, Times of India:

     Basel accept Swiss title at third time of asking

   • 2012 May 11, Kenny Dalglish, Daily Mail:

     'To get a trophy back after six years, to get into Europe at the first time of asking, it's not a bad ask is it?'

   • 2009, BBC, 16 August 2009

     In the final, he powered out of the blocks at the first time of asking and took control of the race within the first 30m, the crowd going wild as he streaked across the line.