1. after a time过了一段时间，一段时间以后
After a time they came to a pond.
过了好久，他们来到一个池塘。
He encouraged her by saying: "after a time you'll get used to things here."
他鼓励她说：“过一段时间，你会逐渐习惯这里的环境的。”
I didn’t care for the place at first, but after a time I got to like it.
起初我不喜欢这个地方，但过了一段时间我便喜欢上它了。
2. after time迟到；超过规定时间
We cannot wait for anyone who arrives after time.
我们绝不等待任何迟到的人。
The publican was fined for selling beer after time.
这位酒店老板因出售过期啤酒而被罚了款。
随便说一下：time after time一次又一次;多次，反复，不断地;再三再四
I've told you time after time not to do that.
我一再告诉过你不要干那件事。
Burns had escaped from jail time after time
伯恩斯屡次越狱。
Time after time, I hear these stories of missing children on the news.
我不断从新闻节目中听到这些关于孩子失踪的报道。
The system has proved fallible time after time
时间一次又一次证明，这个系统是会出错的。
