before someone's time

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before someone's time

1. (idiomatic) From before one was born or old enough to be aware of the world.
   • 2007, Bobby Braddock, Down in Orburndale: A Songwriter's Youth in Old Florida, Louisiana State University Press (2007), →ISBN, page 55:

     At thirteen, I liked a lot of music that was before my time: Louis Armstrong and Dixieland jazz, Sousa marches, and barbershop quartet singing.

   • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:before someone's time.
2. (idiomatic) At a stage in one's life, development, etc. that seems premature.
   • 1951, Johnny Cash, letter to Vivian Cash dated 3 November 1951, reprinted in Vivian Cash (with Ann Sharpsteen), I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, Scribner (2007), →ISBN, page 38:

     Oh yes, and tell her to take care of herself too, and not get herself all banged up again, or she will look old before her time.

   • 2007, Robin Shannon, Cemeteries of Seattle, Arcadia Publishing (2007), →ISBN, page 119:

     Jimi Hendrix is buried at Evergreen Memorial Park in Renton. The electric guitar player extraordinaire died before his time at the young age of 27.

   • 2012, Laura Frantz, Love's Reckoning, Revell (2012), →ISBN, unnumbered page:

     "Unless you become the third apprentice to quit before his time?"

   • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:before someone's time.