Copious free time
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"Copious free time" (sometimes "copious spare time") is used to indicate that a speaker has much free time in which to perform a task. It is often used sarcastically, however, to imply that the speaker really has no time in which to do it. The phrase is similar in meaning and attitude to the phrase "real soon now".
[edit] Origin of the phrase
The phrase is attributed to Tom Lehrer, from his album An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer (1959)[1]. In introducing the song "It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier", Lehrer explains:
- At any rate, I recall this sergeant's informing me and my roommates of this rather deplorable fact that the Army didn't have any official–excuse me, didn't have no official–song and suggested that we work on this in our copious free time.
The Army, however, declined to adopt the song.
- ^ Copious Free Time, The Jargon File. Accessed August 30, 2006.
