Time spent giving someone your full, undivided attention in a meaningful and focused way. It emphasizes the importance of the attention and engagement given rather than just the quantity of time spent together.
The phrase emerged in the 1970s and gained widespread use in the 1980s, particularly in discussions about work-life balance and parenting. It reflects a cultural shift toward valuing the intensity and meaningfulness of interactions over their duration.
This relatively modern phrase captures a distinctly contemporary anxiety about time scarcity and relationship quality. It suggests that in our busy world, time itself has become a commodity that can be graded for quality—a concept that would have been foreign to previous generations.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.