change of pace

[ cheynj uhv peys ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

temporary shift or variation in a normal routine or regular pattern of activity:
Reading a mystery novel has been a real change of pace for me.
Baseball: Older Use. changeup ( def ).

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Word History and Origins

Origin of change of pace¹

First recorded in 1650–60; 1865–70 change of pace fordef 2

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Idioms and Phrases

A shift in normal routine, a variation in usual activities or pattern, as in She's smiling in that one photo, just for a change of pace , or After six hours at my desk I need a change of pace, so I'm going for a swim . This term originated in a number of sports where strategy can involve altering the speed of, for example, a pitched or struck ball or a horse's gait. By the mid-1900s it was being transferred to other enterprises.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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