Problem for wizard, this being the case at times (3,3,4)

I believe the answer is:

now and then

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'at times' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for now and then that I've seen before include "Sometimes" , "At times" , "Occasionally" , "making a historical contrast" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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