then and there

Idioms

Also, there and then. At that precise time and place; on the spot. For example, When the board questioned his judgment again, he resigned then and there. The first term was first recorded in 1442, the variant in 1496.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And they had vowed then and there to never associate with this terrible man again.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

We decide then and there to do his story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

I went into the meeting prepared to audition if I had to at that moment, and he offered me the role then and there.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

I mean, there were no cell phones back then and there was no social media, so that alone changed everything.

From Salon • Sep. 7, 2024

I wanted to eat it all right then and there, but there was no telling how much farther we would have to walk.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023