timing
In most everyday contexts, 'timing' is used as an uncountable noun. You usually say "the timing was bad" rather than "a timing was bad." When referring to comedy or sports, it describes a skill or a sense of rhythm rather than just a clock measurement. In mechanical contexts, it refers specifically to the precise sequence of events within an engine.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Floating in a cargo bay while waiting for the ship's artificial gravity to reboot.
Zorg
I just sent you 400 photos of my pet slime! Is your timing off?
Lt. Vega
My timing is fine. You're just blowing up my phone during a blackout.
💡
Zorg misinterprets 'timing' as a technical synchronization issue with his messages, while Lt. Vega uses it to refer to the inappropriateness of the moment. The phrasal verb 'blowing up' is used here to mean sending an overwhelming number of notifications.
Meanings
noun
The choice, judgment, or control of when something should happen to achieve the best result.
"The comedian's perfect timing made the joke land exactly right."