What Does "but then when" Mean?
Learn what "but then when" means, when people say it, and how to use it naturally in English.
But then when the lights went out, it was very scary.
It means the speaker is describing a scary experience that happened in the dark.
From School Hall, Episode 12
When do people say this?
Scene Context
Someone describes a frightening moment after the lights went out.
Usage Scenario
Use this to narrate a frightening event. It is simple and natural, but this exact sentence is more like storytelling than a reusable phrase.
Better ways to say it
But then when the lights went out, it was very scary.
When the lights went out, it was scary.
It got scary when the lights went out.
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