In the past, this expression was used as an argument to re-elect a president, especially during a time when the country was at war.

VOA: special.2009.07.12

Alfred Wegener said the mountains and fossils were evidence that all the land on Earth was united at some time in the distant past.

VOA: special.2010.01.12

At one time in the past, my brother had been in love with this woman.

VOA: special.2009.07.19

The Japanese government bailed out the airline three times in the past 10 years, but it could not save the company from bankruptcy this time around.

VOA: standard.2010.02.01

As in other cases during the past few years, average travelers are now the ones paying the price by spending even more time in international airport terminals and undergoing increased screening, while security officials attempt to figure out just went wrong and who was responsible.

VOA: standard.2009.12.28