as usual, in the customary or usual manner: As usual, he forgot my birthday.
Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin ūsuālis, equivalent to Latin ūsu-, stem of ūsus use (see use (noun)) + -ālis-al1; compare Old French usuel
Related forms
u·su·al·ly, adverb
u·su·al·ness, noun
Synonyms 1. accustomed. Usual,customary,habitual refer to a settled and constant practice. Usual indicates something that is to be expected by reason of previous experience, which shows it to occur more often than not: There were the usual crowds at the celebration. Something that is customary is in accordance with prevailing usage or individual practice: It is customary to finish up with a bonfire. That which is habitual has become settled or constant as the result of habit on the part of the individual: The merchants wore habitual smiles throughout the season. 2. general, prevailing, prevalent, familiar, regular. 3. expected, predictable.
late 14c., from O.Fr. usuel (late 13c.), from L.L. usualis "ordinary," from L. usus "custom" (see use). The adv. form usually is attested from late 15c. The usual suspects is from a line delivered by Claude Rains (as a French police inspector) in "Casablanca" (1942).