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roll on

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

For time or events to keep going, OR to say 'I can't wait for something to happen!'

Literal meaning: To continue rolling forward — transparent for the physical/temporal sense.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

(Of time or events) to continue passing or progressing.

"As the years rolled on, he began to look back on his youth with nostalgia."

2 B2 idiomatic informal

(British, exclamation) Used to express a wish that a future time or event would arrive sooner.

"Roll on payday — I've been surviving on toast all week!"

3 B1 neutral

To apply something (such as deodorant or paint) using a rolling applicator.

"He rolled on some deodorant quickly before leaving the house."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The exclamatory use 'Roll on Friday!' (British English) expresses impatience for something to arrive. 'Roll-on' (hyphenated or one word) also describes a type of deodorant applicator or a roll-on/roll-off ferry. The product sense requires knowing the hyphenated noun form. Time 'rolling on' is a literary and neutral expression.

Commonly used with

time years Friday holidays summer deodorant ferry

Forms

Base
roll on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rolls on
he/she/it
Past simple
rolled on
yesterday
Past participle
rolled on
have + pp
-ing form
rolling on
continuous

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