# "Half past kissing time, time to kiss again": How widespread? Other language equivalents?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 27, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849 "2018-06-27T16:55:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/21 "2018-06-27T17:30:14Z")

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Never heard the kissing expression. Minnesota born and raised.

> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> 😕 “yinz”?

Dialectal second person plural common to the Pittsburgh area.

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**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/22 "2018-06-27T17:31:06Z")

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Never heard the kissing one, the cow one, or the freckle one. From South Carolina.

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**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/23 "2018-06-27T17:37:43Z")

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From Indiana. The only one I’ve ever heard is “half past a freckle.” Which, as a kid, I was absolutely positive that I invented!

“Half past kissing time…” sounds weird to me, and vaguely dirty-old-manish.

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**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/24 "2018-06-27T17:37:56Z")

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Never heard any of them. Grew up in Philly area, also lived in upstate NY, New England, Wisconsin, and Arizona.

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**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/25 "2018-06-27T17:42:47Z")

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Another never heard it. Grew up in Maryland in the 60s and 70s.

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**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/26 "2018-06-27T17:45:18Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> Dialectal second person plural common to the Pittsburgh area.

“Where are yinz goin’ after the game?” Or “Did yunz forget to buy some city chicken and chipped ham from Giant Iggle again? I swear yunz are a bunch of freakin jags.” My mom’s from Uniontown, so we use yunz instead of yinz.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/27 "2018-06-27T17:45:33Z")

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Upstate New York. Never heard any of them.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/28 "2018-06-27T18:06:33Z")

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I’ve never heard the kissing term before reading this thread; I grew up in the Midwest (Wisconsin and Illinois), and I’m in my 50s.

I do recall something like the freckle term, from when I was a kid in the 1970s. I don’t think I’ve heard it since then.

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**Author:** ![Sveltington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@Sveltington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sveltington)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/29 "2018-06-27T18:08:06Z")

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Born USA New England area never heard of it.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/30 "2018-06-27T18:08:40Z")

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> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> I suggested that in a friendly manner to a mother answering her kid’s question, and she looked at me like I was from the moon.

I think the problem may have been in how _you_ said this. The mother may have thought you were being fresh. You’re lucky you didn’t get slapped.

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**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/31 "2018-06-27T18:17:30Z")

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If there’s Spanish-language equivalents I either haven’t encountered them or that part of my brain has already died.

Such a question asked from a kid to a parent will, IME, either be answered straight or “same time as before” or “time to [whatever]” (time to go have lunch, time to eat your lunch, time for you to shut up, etc.).

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/32 "2018-06-27T18:21:34Z")

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> [@Nava](#):
>
> Such a question asked from a kid to a parent will, IME, either be answered straight or “same time as before” or “time to [whatever]” (time to go have lunch, time to eat your lunch, time for you to shut up, etc.).

When my nephew was a little kid, there was a day on which he was being persistent about asking what time it was (I think we were waiting for someone to arrive). After a few hours of that question, I finally replied with “It’s half past ‘stop asking already!’” Which made him laugh, but actually did get him to stop asking. 😃

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**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/33 "2018-06-27T18:27:32Z")

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Never heard any of them, grew up in the Midwest, been on the West Coast for years.

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/34 "2018-06-27T18:38:06Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I think the problem may have been in how _you_ said this. The mother may have thought you were being fresh. You’re lucky you didn’t get slapped.

Yes, that occurred to me. I kept my distance, though, smiled, and she was a neighbor along the same path to my building. Jess tryin’ tabe friendly, and smiling my most friendly smile. Plus I’m older now, and don’t (I hope) have a dirty old man presence.

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/35 "2018-06-27T18:42:00Z")

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Damn, youz guys: start using this with your kids, grandkids, nephew/niece folk. Waddya’ say? Can’t hurt. They think you’re weird anyway.

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/36 "2018-06-27T18:47:00Z")

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> [@senoy](#):
>
> “Where are yinz goin’ after the game?” Or “Did yunz forget to buy some city chicken and chipped ham from Giant Iggle again? I swear yunz are a bunch of freakin jags.” My mom’s from Uniontown, so we use yunz instead of yinz.

😕 “jags”?

Is this derived from “jag-off” and is (I presume) less hostile?

I ask–and I’m glad it came up–because in the Scorcese _Goodfellas_ and \*Casino \* the NY/Kansas City) Pesci character used it repeatedly, and for the life of me I never heard it before.

And this from Scorcese, who (and/or screenwriter) used “fuck him in the ear” and “what am I, a schmuck on wheels?” so perfectly in _Goodfellas_.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/37 "2018-06-27T19:05:55Z")

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Grew up in Queens and Brooklyn, college in Western PA, never heard the kissing thing. Sounds super creepy to me.

Our version was the cow one, but also heard the freckle one.

I’m in my 50s, so maybe a youngster on this board. 😃

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/38 "2018-06-27T19:09:36Z")

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> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> … Sounds super creepy to me…

C’mon, from a parent to his/her little kid…

ETA: Same age, Forest Hills boy.

FWIW, Parents are German and Hungarian, respectively. 🙂

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**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/39 "2018-06-27T19:21:15Z")

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> [@P-man](#):
>
> Never heard the kissing one. For us it was half past the monkey’s ass.

This, exactly. Minnesotan here.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/half-past-kissing-time-time-to-kiss-again-how-widespread-other-language-equivalents/816849/40 "2018-06-27T19:21:42Z")

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> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> C’mon, from a parent to his/her little kid…
> 
> ETA: Same age, Forest Hills boy.
> 
> FWIW, Parents are German and Hungarian, respectively. 🙂

Yeah, still pretty creepy. My parents are from Europe as well, but came over when they were very young.

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