meantolearn  +  317837 Sun, 21 Jan 07 02:09 AM Can anyone explain why "on the double" means immediately? Thanks, meantolearn Joined on Thu, Feb 24 2005 Regular Member 808 I think; therefore I am.

	Feebs11  +  317845 Sun, 21 Jan 07 03:12 AM I suspect it is from the military command "at the double" [BE]  which orders soldiers to move at a run. Feebs11 Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006 UK Veteran Member 5,015

	Philip  +  317856 Sun, 21 Jan 07 03:50 AM  Feebs11 wrote: I suspect it is from the military command "at the double" [BE]  which orders soldiers to move at a run. Indeed.  Think of "double time". Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,737 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

	meantolearn  +  318617 Tue, 23 Jan 07 02:06 AM   Indeed.  Think of "double time". Hi, Philip. Did you mean to move at a double speed? Please be explain more. Thanks, The dictionary says: If you are paid double time, you are paid twice the usual amount for the time which you spend working, usually because you are working at the weekend (= Saturday and Sunday) or on an official holiday. meantolearn

	Grammar Geek  +  318642 Tue, 23 Jan 07 03:56 AM If you are walking, that is "normal" time. If you have to take two steps during the amount of time you would normally take one step, you are moving much more quickly - at "double time." That is not at all the same meaning as getting double time in terms of pay. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,659 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!