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see you at the back of 8

141 replies

FFSeverynameisused · 11/05/2019 16:07

Is it a Scottish thing?

Anyone know what it means?

I do (Scottish)

My friend is English and was like WTF lol

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Celebelly · 11/05/2019 16:58

Haha I just had this discussion with my English DP. He was baffled!

KneelJustKneel · 11/05/2019 16:58

Well in my head it does as behind 8 would be the numbers leading up to it!

KneelJustKneel · 11/05/2019 16:59

In front of 8 would be the numbers ahead of it, in front of!

KneelJustKneel · 11/05/2019 16:59

Behind usually means, well, behind! So behind something would be before it...

Mrsjayy · 11/05/2019 17:01

Oh my head is bursting Grin

Winegumaddict · 11/05/2019 17:08

Yes I do but only because my DDad is Scottish. I've never heard an English person say it. Or understand it when we say it.

OnlyRealButterWillDo · 11/05/2019 17:14

I'm English and live in Scotland (over 16 years now) with Scottish DH and the three mini Scots we made. I refuse to use "back of..." as a time because I swear my MIL only uses it to make me feel like I'm not on time or to have me waiting round for her. But honestly I don't use it because it's just inaccurate.

My biggest ones to understand were:

"What you saying, Hen?" When you got to the counter in a shop. My standard reply was.... "um... sorry, I didn't say anything?"

"Where do you stay?" And my confused reply was "Oh no, I live here"

Its all normal to me now. I have been "black affronted". I often "cannae mind" something. I ken whit people mean just fine. I even go for my messages every week up the street with MIL.

Redglitter · 11/05/2019 17:15

I'm amazed people havent heard of out with. Never crossed my mind that it was a Scottish thing

I think I go everywhere 'the back of'

OnlyRealButterWillDo · 11/05/2019 17:17

But outwith isn't a Scottish thing. It's a very normal word to describe out of office hours, or outside of a contract's perimeters etc. Maybe it's too formal a term for some to use regularly so they hadn't heard it before?

CrazyCatNerd · 11/05/2019 17:18

"Just now" confused the fuck out of me until I realised it was a Scottish thing.

And "stay" rather than live. Staying somewhere means temporarily, like a holiday.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 11/05/2019 17:18

I’m South England and I know what outwith is. Confused

Drogosnextwife · 11/05/2019 17:20

I had no idea these phrases weren't used outwith Scotland Wink

Celebelly · 11/05/2019 17:27

Outwith is very definitely a Scottish word! Scottish people have managed to spread the word of it a bit, though!
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/outwith

whiskeysourpuss · 11/05/2019 17:29

The back of = any time between one minute to 59 minutes past the hour Grin

Is the outwith thing not that we (Scots) make it one word & not 2?

FizzBuzzBangWoof · 11/05/2019 17:29

Celebelly - I was starting to think I must be stupid for not knowing the meaning of outwith but I genuinely don't recall ever hearing or seeing it!

(I'm in Yorkshire)

Celebelly · 11/05/2019 17:33

The word outwith was actually one of the subjects of very interesting lecture on linguistics I attended! All the Scots in attendance just nodded knowingly Grin

Auntpetunia2015 · 11/05/2019 17:35

Some time after 8, my Scottish OH says it all the time x

TheOrigFV45 · 11/05/2019 17:38

My Scottish colleague often says "I'm bringing my daughter swimming" when (to my English ears) he means "I'm taking my daughter swimming".

PolaDeVeboise · 11/05/2019 17:41

Don't really understand the 'back of 8' thing and I'm Scottish - way too unspecific for me! As for 'outwith', I used it when typing letter when I first moved to London in 1989 and was told it wasn't a word. I was VERY perplexed. However I checked the dictionary and it wasn't in there - really made me doubt myself!

FFSeverynameisused · 11/05/2019 17:47

Didn't know "where do you stay" was a Scottish thing Grin

Is it Scottish to say "taking DD to the baths"?

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Piggywaspushed · 11/05/2019 17:51

This ahs confused me many times. I grew up in Scotland where 'back of' meant 'somewhere around and usually a bit after' and then moved to York where they say 'back of' all the time and it meant just before the hour! I was never sure when I was expected anywhere!

Piggywaspushed · 11/05/2019 17:52

And, oh yes, had to drop where do you stay within months of starting uni as they just answered with their college and room number. I think everyone thought I was overly nosy/ a potential stalker!

JellicleCat · 11/05/2019 17:52

I use 'the back of' frequently, so I was rather surprised recently when dh (English) said he though it meant before the hour Shock. I put him right Smile. He does know what outwith means though.

FizzBuzzBangWoof · 11/05/2019 17:58

'Taking DD to the baths', I would assume you meant taking her swimming?

FFSeverynameisused · 11/05/2019 18:01

yep

too many scottishisms that my non Scottish friends don't understand

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