The phrase "by this time" is commonly used in English to refer to a specific point in time in the past or present. When written phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it would be transcribed as /baɪ ðɪs taɪm/. The first part of the phrase, "by," is pronounced with a long "i" sound followed by a voiced "b" consonant. The second part of the phrase, "this time," includes a voiced "th" sound, a short "i" vowel, and a voiced "m" consonant.
By this time is an idiomatic expression that refers to a specific point in time that has already occurred or a period that has already elapsed. It suggests that the mentioned event or action has happened or should have happened before the present moment. The phrase "by this time" can be considered as a temporal reference, indicating the expectation or assumption that something should have been accomplished or concluded before a certain point.
Furthermore, "by this time" can also imply a relative duration of time that has passed since the start of a particular period or event. For example, it can denote an estimation of the length of time that has elapsed since the beginning of a specific event or a reference to how much longer an action is expected to take.
In general, "by this time" is used to emphasize the expectation of completion or to highlight the delay or lateness of an action or event. It conveys a sense of urgency or late expectation, suggesting that the mentioned action should have already occurred based on the context or pre-established timeframe. It can be utilized in various scenarios, such as punctuality, deadlines, or time management, to emphasize the importance of meeting specific time constraints or expectations.