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Original poster

Time - "the back of xx o clock"

108 replies

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 31/12/2025 10:45

This is just my thoughts spilling out but my husband just said to me "I've told your dad I'll be round at the back of 11" and i'm like so is that 5 past 11 or 5 to 12? And he laughed because he has definitely explained it to me before and I just can't wrap my head around it.
The back of something, to me, sounds like it would be the end. So I imagine it to be closer to 12.
I know I am wrong. But the saying is bullshit.
There. I said it.

OP posts:
ThirdStorm · 31/12/2025 10:47

I’ve never heard of this before! My interpretation would be 11.45 but before midday.

GardyLou · 31/12/2025 10:48

How rude, it is a scottish thing, not bullshit.

It would be after 11, before 20 past.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 31/12/2025 10:49

Also Scottish. The back of 11 to me would be between 11 and quarter past, definitely no later than half past.

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 31/12/2025 10:51

I've never heard the expression until this thread, and I wouldn't know what it meant either.

ArseSkinForAFriend · 31/12/2025 10:52

Some Northern friends of mine say "11 while 12", which means between 11 and 12.

It took me a while to understand it.

RaraRachael · 31/12/2025 10:56

Scottish and "back of 11" would mean between 11.05 and 11.15.

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy there are regional variations around the UK. Not everyone speaks the same. Fancy that.

Usernamenotfound1 · 31/12/2025 10:58

GardyLou · 31/12/2025 10:48

How rude, it is a scottish thing, not bullshit.

It would be after 11, before 20 past.

Agreed. What is this current trend for slagging off different cultures and telling people they are wrong because you don’t agree/do that thing.

American TikTok, looking at you. If us brits want salt and pepper chips with our Chinese, not your place to tell us we are wrong because that’s not your norm.

l like learning different regional expression. Most are great. Yorkshire uses “8 while 10”. Perfectly understandable.

lurkingfromhome · 31/12/2025 10:58

It’s Scottish English, perfectly common, means an unspecified time between around 5 past and 20 past.

Kind of patronising to dismiss a regional variant as “bullshit”, don’t you think?

Grumblies · 31/12/2025 10:59

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 31/12/2025 10:51

I've never heard the expression until this thread, and I wouldn't know what it meant either.

Likewise. Did your dad know what time he meant?

I also think it's quite unkind that he laughed at you over it.

PhantomAfternoonTea · 31/12/2025 11:00

I'm Scottish, to me the back of 11 is around half past eleven as after that point you get closer to 12 o'clock than 11.

But that's later than everyone else has said, so maybe I've been late for things my whole life without realising!

Changingplace · 31/12/2025 11:03

ThirdStorm · 31/12/2025 10:47

I’ve never heard of this before! My interpretation would be 11.45 but before midday.

Yeah same, I’d think it meant just before 12.

Changingplace · 31/12/2025 11:04

GardyLou · 31/12/2025 10:48

How rude, it is a scottish thing, not bullshit.

It would be after 11, before 20 past.

Pretty rude OPs partner laughed at her tbh.

Changingplace · 31/12/2025 11:05

lurkingfromhome · 31/12/2025 10:58

It’s Scottish English, perfectly common, means an unspecified time between around 5 past and 20 past.

Kind of patronising to dismiss a regional variant as “bullshit”, don’t you think?

More patronising to be laughed at by someone over not knowing a saying.

BeforeSigourneyWeaverTheyWoveTheirOwnSigourneys · 31/12/2025 11:06

Regional dialects are bullshit because you don't have the capacity to understand despite it being explained to you?

The back of 11 is closer to 11 than 12, usually before about 11.15/20.

Breathmiller · 31/12/2025 11:06

Yes, Scottish here and I use "the back of.." regularly.

I had never heard of the expression "10 while 11" and couldn't figure out what it meant til it was explained so I understand people who don't use my regional expression not understanding.

(I don't find these regional differences bullshit though, more interesting)

One that has gone from my vocabularly is one my (very Scots dialect) Granny used "the forenoon" which means later morning. I can hear her saying it now.

GardyLou · 31/12/2025 11:08

Next up:

People telling us that 'outwith' is a bullshit word.

[folds arms]

RaraRachael · 31/12/2025 11:09

@Breathmiller I remember my granny saying foregoing and also "yestreen" for yesterday.
I use "iday" for today and "imorn" for tomorrow.

SirChenjins · 31/12/2025 11:09

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 31/12/2025 10:45

This is just my thoughts spilling out but my husband just said to me "I've told your dad I'll be round at the back of 11" and i'm like so is that 5 past 11 or 5 to 12? And he laughed because he has definitely explained it to me before and I just can't wrap my head around it.
The back of something, to me, sounds like it would be the end. So I imagine it to be closer to 12.
I know I am wrong. But the saying is bullshit.
There. I said it.

Yep, perfectly normal Scottish expression. It's probably used elsewhere in the UK too.

You need to get out more OP, otherwise you'll continue to come out with bullshit.

itsthetea · 31/12/2025 11:09

Back and front of - imagine a clock face

front of 11 would be before 11 but closer to that than anything else

back of … after the 11 but closer to that than anything

tigger1001 · 31/12/2025 11:10

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 31/12/2025 10:49

Also Scottish. The back of 11 to me would be between 11 and quarter past, definitely no later than half past.

Scottish here too and this is exactly what I would take it to mean

tigger1001 · 31/12/2025 11:11

GardyLou · 31/12/2025 11:08

Next up:

People telling us that 'outwith' is a bullshit word.

[folds arms]

🤣🤣 yep!

I know it's not a word, but still use it regularly 🤣

RaraRachael · 31/12/2025 11:13

I've always used "outwith" I can't think of a suitable "English" alternative

Cece92 · 31/12/2025 11:13

This is definitely a Scottish thing we all say it too lol! It’s like between the hour and quarter past. So back of the hour. Xx

Breathmiller · 31/12/2025 11:15

Its only through mumsnet that "outwith" was not used outwith Scotland. Or that it was so contentious. Blew my wee tartan mind.

(See also...Santa, guising and the whole turnip/swede debate).

tigger1001 · 31/12/2025 11:15

Changingplace · 31/12/2025 11:04

Pretty rude OPs partner laughed at her tbh.

Show quote history

Not really. She said he's explained it before but she can't wrap her head around it and that's why he laughed.

its not exactly rocket science once someone has explained it to you - certainly not something that requires multiple attempts to grasp.