in one’s own time—
1. in one’s lifetime:
- While in his own time Terence’s plays were not popular, many critics praised his graceful handling of the Latin language.
2. in one’s free time; outside working hours:
- He wasn’t able to finish the job at the office, so he had to do it in his own time.
3. (also: in one’s own good time) at a time and rate of one’s own choosing:
- Open learning offers the learner flexible learning opportunities—the learner can work in his own time.
Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase on one’s own time—
1. = in one’s own time 2:
- My work as assistant editor is only a sideline. Since I do it largely on my own time, I avoid extra work and correspondence.
2. (do smth.) free of charge; without being paid:
- I answer questions on my own time. I mean that I do it free of charge, not as part of a paid job.
in one’s time—
1. = in one’s own time 1:
- Whereas in his time few animal examples of the moral emotions were known, we know now that there are many parallels in primate behavior.
2. earlier in one’s life:
- He’s a good enough player, but I’ve seen better in my time.
3. at a previous period in one’s life when a person was young:
- “In my time,” said the old man, “a gentleman would always give a lady his seat on a bus.”