then and there

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

then and there

Walking into a room with six immigration agents, she was told to put her hands behind back and prepare to be arrested, right then and there.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

A few weeks earlier, Natera had sent me an email offering me a cash rate of $250, meaning that if I paid the bill right then and there, that would be the entire total.

From Slate ● Apr. 25, 2026

Constitutionally, I was born equal to all the other babies born then and there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 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

If Tommy happened to say to you: “I’m really upset about it,” he’d have to put on a long, downcast face, then and there, to back up his words.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro