Pronunciation: [d͡ʒˈʌst nˈa͡ʊ] (IPA) 
The spelling of the phrase "just now" may seem straightforward, but its pronunciation can be tricky. In IPA phonetic transcription, "just now" is pronounced as /dʒʌst naʊ/, with the "j" sound at the beginning, followed by a short "u" sound in "just" and a long "a" sound in "now." This can be a difficult phrase to master for non-native English speakers, as it can easily be mispronounced as "just no" or "just nose."
Just now is an idiomatic expression referring to a recent or immediate past moment in time. It is commonly used to indicate an action, event, or occurrence that has happened very recently, emphasizing its connection to the present moment. The phrase is often employed to describe an action performed or a statement made very recently, with an implication of temporal proximity.
The term "just" within the context of "just now" denotes a precise point in time, indicating that the action or event occurred not long ago. It implies a narrow time frame or immediacy, suggesting that whatever happened is very close in time to the present moment. By using the word "now" in conjunction with "just," it reinforces the immediacy and current relevance of the action or event.
For instance, if someone says, "I saw him just now," it conveys that the person observed the individual very recently, possibly minutes or moments ago. Similarly, if someone says, "She called just now," it signifies that the telephone conversation took place only a short time ago, reinforcing the connection to the present moment.
In summary, "just now" is an idiomatic expression emphasizing the immediate past and indicating an action or event that has taken place very recently, usually within a short time frame before the present moment.
The phrase "just now" originated from Middle English and has its roots in Old English.
The word "just" comes from the Old French word "juste", which means "right" or "exact". This term was borrowed from the Latin word "iustus", which carries the same meaning.
The word "now", on the other hand, can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled as "nu". It is believed to have been derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*nū", meaning "now" or "at present".
When combined, "just" and "now" create the meaning of something happening at the precise moment or very recently. Over time, the phrase "just now" has remained unchanged and continues to be used in modern English with the same meaning.
