by this time
by this time — 慣用語
1. already, at the point in time being talked about or expected.
已經
到了這時，事情通常早已如此
already, at the point in time being talked about or expected.
I thought Diego would be home by this time, so I called his sister.
我以為 Diego 到這時應該已經到家了，所以我打給他姊姊。
by this time = already at an expected point
By this time, the bakery usually has only two cheese buns left.
通常到了這個時候，麵包店只剩兩個起司麵包。
by this time at the start of a sentence
Lan is normally awake by this time, but the apartment is still quiet.
Lan 平常到了這個時候已經醒了，但公寓裡還很安靜。
By this time last year, Anjali had already saved enough for the train fare.
到了去年這個時候，Anjali 已經存夠火車票錢了。
We expected the rain to stop by this time, yet the playground stayed empty.
我們原以為到了這個時候雨會停，但操場還是空的。
- by now
the closest everyday synonym; often sounds a little more conversational
- already
shorter and usually placed nearer the verb
- at this point
broader; often used for stages in a process, discussion, or story
- not yet
used when the expected state has still not been reached
文法句型
by this time, + clause
[subject] + be/finish/leave + by this time
by this time last year
用法筆記
Often appears when the speaker compares now, or another known point, with what was expected earlier. Common with be, finish, leave, wake, sell out, and similar verbs that describe a state already reached.