a bit previous

Explaining why he believed agnosticism was a more rational position than atheism, the author Martin Amis said: “Since we know so very little about the universe, it’s a bit previous to say that there’s no higher intelligence. Since the universe is much cleverer than we are and cosmology is almost going backward, we’re just finding out more about our ignorance.”

It is a bit previous for such gloom, but what is the argument?

Photograph: London 2012/PA The recessional tone of some headlines about the Olympics is a bit previous, if I may say so.

The big race will take place a week tomorrow and, in case you're thinking this piece is a bit previous, I'm planning to use next week's column to pick out five outsiders who could run above their odds.

But when the thunder rolled as he made the incision, he reflected: "A bit previous, the applause."