〜に限って

of all (people/times), just when; only (in notices); X, of all people, wouldn't

Formation: N + に限って; V / い-adj plain form, incl. negative (V-る, V-ている, V-た, V-ない, V-ていない, A-い, A-くない) + 時・日 + に限って; notices: N + に限り

〜に限って points to one particular time or person where things went against expectation. Most often it is a complaint that something bad happens at exactly the worst moment: 急いでいる時に限って電車が遅れる, 忙しい時に限って客が来る. With a person followed by a negative, it expresses strong trust: うちの子に限ってそんなことはしない, 'not my child, surely'. In notices, the formal form 〜に限り simply means 'only', as in 本日に限り半額. Compare 〜に限らず (not only X) and 〜に限る (nothing beats X). Unlike neutral だけ, 〜に限って usually carries frustration, irony or firm belief.

Variants: に限り、に限っては

Examples

傘を持っていない日に限って、雨が降る。
It always rains on the very day I don't have an umbrella.
うちの子に限って、人の物を盗むはずがない。
My child, of all people, would never steal someone else's things.
本日に限り、全商品を二割引きで販売いたします。
Today only, all items are on sale at 20% off.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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