# What does "a bit after x" mean to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409 "2026-05-26T16:31:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/21 "2026-05-27T07:53:01Z")
Similarly, in both South Africa and Zimbabwe, we have the word “soon” and the phrase “soon soon”. Both of which are absolutely divorced from what the rest of the world thinks. “I’ll be there soon” = “anytime from 1 minute to a couple of hours, no guarantees” “I’ll be there soon soon” = “I have not even begun thinking about moving, and even when I do, it will be at some unpredictable time in the mid future, probably several days or weeks.” We joke about “Africa Time” but being a bit pedantic I always try to be punctual and accurate in my own “I’ll be there in X mins/hours” statements. “A bit after X” is very similar, a total fabrication or hopelessly inaccurate, and that “bit” could extend to hours. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/22 "2026-05-27T09:26:06Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Some minutes are longer than others. Wait just a New York minute. Some are shorter. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/23 "2026-05-27T09:46:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Likewise, “I’ll be driving 4 hours and should arrive a bit after 5 pm” is different from “I’ll be leaving from 15 minutes away and should arrive a bit after 5pm”. The former inherently has much larger error bars even for a highly punctual person. Somewhat similarly, I got very good at estimating times of arrival, back when I drove a truck. “Due into White River at 1707 hours, pee break, should be into Sault Ste. Marie at 1929 hours.” Barring any traffic problems or construction, I was usually within five minutes of my estimate. So, for me, “time X” means “within five minutes either way.” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/24 "2026-05-27T11:44:25Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > We have the same issue with “inna minute”. > > Some minutes are longer than others. In our house we try to specify whether that’s a basketball minute or a football minute. As a time-blind ADHDer I never judge anybody for being late. If they knew precisely what time they’d arrive, they’d have named the time. “A bit” to me means, “but there may be forces beyond my control.” If it’s more than a half hour later I’ll be looking for an update though, or at least an assurance that you are all right. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/25 "2026-05-27T12:37:25Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Similarly, in both South Africa and Zimbabwe, we have the word “soon” and the phrase “soon soon”. You left out “now now” and “just now”… ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/26 "2026-05-27T12:50:48Z")
I expect a certain amount of specificity in language. If they chose “a bit after” rather than “quarter past” or “sometime after” it implies to me they have narrowed down their ETA to be earlier than 5:15. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/27 "2026-05-27T13:22:16Z")
Is the occasion depending on them? There’s a difference if someone told me that’d be at a bar to meet for drinks at a bit after 5 or if they’d be one of 20 people showing up at a holiday get together at a bit after 5. The former I’d say 10-15 minutes and the latter within like an hour. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/28 "2026-05-27T15:39:07Z")
I employ it not with much concern for how long after “X”, rather it’s my way of attempting to insure that someone arrives _not before_ “X”, before _I_ am ready. It’s been well discussed on these boards about habitually late people, and I feel your pain and concur, but there are some people in my life that arrive early, stupid early…absurdly early, and that stresses me out. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/29 "2026-05-27T16:24:03Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > It’s been well discussed on these boards about habitually late people, and I feel your pain and concur, but there are some people in my life that arrive early, stupid early…absurdly early, and that stresses me out. Oh yeah, if you say you’re going to be there at X and you show up 15 minutes before X, you’re likely to be visiting me in my pajamas. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/30 "2026-05-27T16:28:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Depends on both the person and the distance. And the sensitivity of the event the person is expected to show up for. A trip to the hospital? “A bit” is not more than 5-10 minutes. Hanging out and watching beer and drinking movies… 6 is fine. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409/31 "2026-05-28T15:37:17Z")
I’ve actually had that happen 😆 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-bit-after-x-mean-to-you/1030409.md?page=1)