(during/in) the course of
Meaning(s)
1. while something is happening or continuing
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
during the course of the conversation/discussion/interview
Analysis
This is a very popular expression that you will hear in many contexts, both social and professional, although it might be heard or used more in a professional context. Sometimes it can sound a bit formal in a social situation because people might say 'while something was happening' or 'at the (same) time something was happening'.
Social Examples (Basic)
- During the course of my discussion with Tom, it became clear to me that he was not coping with the end of his marriage as well as I had thought.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- The interviewer asked me what skills I had picked up during the course of my previous employment.
- A number of issues were raised in the course of the meeting, but the most pressing was the issue of the cancelled staff bonuses.