Dmytro KalpakchiJan 14, 2023
Colin the Mathmo

OK, language weirdness question.

Someone recently said:

"I just about caught the train."

Did they catch it or not? Perhaps it depends whether you think of English as (one of) your first language(s).

As always, if you're happy to do so I'd be grateful if you'd boost for reach, and to get beyond my circle of followers.

Thank you!

They caught the train (EN)
24.9%
They missed the train (EN)
46.7%
They caught the train (other)
20.5%
They missed the train (other))
7.9%
Poll ended at .
Jan 14, 2023 at 4:26pmWeb
Show threadIoannis KonstantoulasJan 14, 2023
@ColinTheMathmo They caught the train for sure. Evidence: there's not a single swear word in there.
Show threadDavid ArchJan 15, 2023
@ykonstant @ColinTheMathmo This. And would one not use "missed the train" if one actually just missed it? Thus, my uneducated guess (non-native speaker) is that the verb "catch" outweighs any nuances regarding the "about". Thanks for the interesting topic!
Show threadBlockforestJan 15, 2023
@david @ykonstant @ColinTheMathmo I think that's the difference, I wouldn't say I just about caught it, unless I had caught it, because otherwise I would have missed it. I would say 'I missed the train', or 'I missed it by a whisker', or something similar, with additional swear words probably.
Show threadColin the MathmoJan 15, 2023

@blockforest One could say "I nearly caught it" which, despite the presence of "caught" means you actually missed it.

I read "I just about caught is" as equivalent to, but even more whisker-like, as "I nearly caught it".

@david @ykonstant

Show threadBlockforestJan 15, 2023
@ColinTheMathmo @david @ykonstant I don’t think I’d say that though - I would say ‘I just missed it’, or ‘I was so close to catching it’. I think it’s more thinking about it as the same as ‘I just caught it’ being I caught the train but it was a close call. Whereas ‘I just about caught it’ is even more whisker-like. Like a - I had to run until my lungs burned and jump through a closing door situation.
Show threadColin ParkerJan 15, 2023
@blockforest @ColinTheMathmo @david @ykonstant I understand “I just about caught the train” to mean that it wasn’t caught, but the difference with “just missed” or “missed by a whisker” is that in the latter cases you expected at some point you might catch it, whereas “just about” implies you never expected to catch it but came closer than you thought.
Show threadSpryOldLoraxJan 15, 2023

@david No, because "Just about" means "almost but note quite".

Saying "I just about fell out of my chair" means you came close to falling out, but you didn't.

So if you "Just about caught the train", that means you came close to catching the train, but didn't. You missed the train.

Show threadMichael Valiant ✅ ⚔️🚀📚Jan 15, 2023
@ykonstant @david @ColinTheMathmo nope - nuance is everything. If I was retelling the story later, I may say: “I missed the train”… but in the moment, running down the platform, I may say: “I just about caught it” (as in ‘almost’ - of course there would be swearing added!)
Show threadGeorgeWLJan 16, 2023
@david @ykonstant @ColinTheMathmo I'd say "almost caught" if I only just missed it
Show thread🏳️‍⚧️ Siobhán SarelleJan 15, 2023

@ykonstant @ColinTheMathmo

Never underestimate the ability of people from this island to swear unnecessarily about anything.

Have you ever heard someone say to somebody “I fucking love you”?

Show threadBoneHouseWasps🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺Jan 15, 2023
@siobhansarelle @ykonstant @ColinTheMathmo That phrase was very nearly part of our wedding vows. 😂
Show threadJesseJan 14, 2023
@ColinTheMathmo They haven't caught the train yet but they're almost there and think they're gonna make it? (Would definitely be this if it were "I've just about caught the train").
Show threadisoughtajamJan 14, 2023
@misc @ColinTheMathmo good point, the difference between "i just" and "i've just" is the difference between the train is now gone vs. it has yet to arrive for me, a native english speaker, though a Californian fwiw
Show thread𝕂ℕ𝔽 𝕀𝕆𝕆 ☎️Jan 15, 2023
@misc @ColinTheMathmo that’s my interpretation.
Show threadrobinhoustonJan 14, 2023
@ColinTheMathmo Is this a “divided by a common language” thing? It seems unambiguous to me that they caught the train, but apparently I'm in a minority of English-speakers with that interpretation. Wondering if there's a UK/US divide.
Show threadAaron WilliamsonJan 14, 2023
@robinhouston @ColinTheMathmo “just about” has always meant “nearly” in my US English speaking world
Show threadrobinhoustonJan 14, 2023
@copiesofcopies I speak British English, so that's consistent with my hypothesis!
Show threadRo ClavertonJan 14, 2023
@robinhouston @copiesofcopies Brit English here. They definitely caught the train. I was surprised to see the poll numbers so high for missing it among English speakers.
Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Another UK English speaker here. It's a bit of an odd usage, but I'd definitely assume they caught the train.
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 14, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies Over here (🇨🇦) I'd be inclined to assume they narrowly missed the train. "Just about" has the same connotation, to me, as "almost but not quite".
Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@pjohanneson @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Very interesting. I know a fair bit about "2 nations divided by a common language" (though given you're Canadian that doesn't quite work here) but this isn't a difference I'd come across before.
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 14, 2023

@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

We're extra divided over here: z's1 everywhere, but "ou" > "o" (eg, socialized labour).

—
1 "zed" unless we're talking about ZZ Top.

Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@pjohanneson @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Pulled in 2 directions, but very politely? 😊
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 14, 2023

@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

Eh

Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@pjohanneson
I meant that Canadian English is pulled by the UK on one side and the US on the other, but that you also have a reputation for being very polite. Badly expressed, especially in a thread about language!
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 15, 2023
@ClaireCopperman
In fairness, I was being a bit glib: eh is one of the Canadian shibboleths. Sorry1, eh.
—
1 Another is using the word sorry while not actually apologizing.
Show threadJohnny CacheJan 14, 2023
@pjohanneson @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Another Canadian here. I agree that this person would be saying that they nearly caught the train, but not quite. "I just (barely) caught the train" would be the option to indicate success (ie. with only a sliver of time remaining).
Show threadBenna 🏳️‍⚧️Jan 14, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @pjohanneson @mondegreen @robinhouston @copiesofcopies @roclaverton so it seems to be a North American English thing
Show threadAnniebeeknitsJan 15, 2023
@pjohanneson Ditto, here, as another Canadian anglophone. They narrowly missed catching the train. @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Show threadEvilham Jan 14, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies non-native speaker, but having had more UK influence than US: they just about caught the train.
Aka: it was tight, but they managed.
Show threadHilary DuffieldJan 14, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Yes, UK English speaker here - I assume they caught the train too.
It's understatement - they caught the train but it almost felt like they didn't as it was so close/they were so rattled by the experience.
Show threadRowynJan 15, 2023
@_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies in American English, "just about" means "almost" or "nearly", and "almost caught the train" = "it was close but failure". Does "just about" have a different meaning in UK English, or does "almost did [thing]" also mean "it was close and success"?
Show threadenchantedsleeper 🌈⭐Jan 15, 2023

@rowyn @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies It means you managed something by the skin of your teeth. "Did you catch the train?" "Just about." = Yes, but barely. It's the same as "just" by itself. "I JUST managed to catch the train" - I came within a hair's breadth of missing it but I caught it.

Not to be confused with "just" as in "I have just done this".

Show threadenchantedsleeper 🌈⭐Jan 15, 2023
@rowyn @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies (If they just barely missed the train you would say "I just missed it", which is why I find it strange that any kind of phrase expressing that they missed the train would contain the word "caught". You didn't catch it!)
Show threadHilary DuffieldJan 15, 2023

@enchantedsleeper @rowyn @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @[email protected]
z @copiesofcopies

Yes, "barely" is a good paraphrase of "just about". There are implied states of mind/emotion in this phrase which involve the experience of something happening when you did not think you were going to make it until the last moment - as in: "It was so close & I was so breathless from running/excitement that I couldn't quite believe I'd made it even when I was on the train" (I think we've all been there...).

Show threadShadSterlingJan 15, 2023
@_HilaryD_ @rowyn @ClaireCopperman @enchantedsleeper @roclaverton @copiesofcopies @robinhouston I would not have thought that “just about” could mean the same as “only just” - or do you flip both and use “only just” for failures that were very close?
Show thread🏳️‍⚧️ Siobhán SarelleJan 15, 2023

@rowyn @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

How about “around about”?

Would it mean before time, after time, or on time?

Does “just” mean before time or on time but not late?

Show threadRowynJan 15, 2023
@siobhansarelle @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies "around about [time]" is "approximately [time]" -- you'd use it if you weren't sure of the time, or if it wasn't important to have an exact time.
Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 15, 2023
@rowyn @siobhansarelle @_HilaryD_ @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Agreed. And "just" to me implies on time, but barely.
Show thread🏳️‍⚧️ Siobhán SarelleJan 16, 2023

@ClaireCopperman @rowyn @_HilaryD_ @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

Actually yes.

One conversation might be

Person 1: “Did you make it on time?”

Person 2: “Only just”

Which though isn’t strictly in terms of words, clear, it is clear that the answer is positive.

Show threadganxelJan 16, 2023
@rowyn @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies it depends on the context, which probably explains why do many people interpret it differently. "I'm just about finished" means I'm not finished (but nearly there). Referring to a past event though it can mean the opposite, e.g. "I just about got the paper in before the deadline" means I did get the paper submitted, but with almost no time to spare.
Definitely seems to be a transatlantic component to the different interpretations.
Show threadRo ClavertonJan 16, 2023
@ganxel @rowyn @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @robinhouston @copiesofcopies AHH, this is a perfect explanation! Thank you!
Show threadRowynJan 16, 2023

@ganxel @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

Yeah, there is at least one person in this thread who said "I'm just about finished" means they're finished but it's not done as well as it could be, so there's some variation on that too.

Show threadganxelJan 16, 2023
@rowyn @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies good point -- the connotation of hasty/sloppy completion due to running out of time makes a lot of sense. Maybe this is in part how some see the train analogy, like diving in through the door while it's closing.
Speaking of, I'm not sure about in the US, but here we might treat things like departure schedules a bit more lazily.
A few years ago I was waiting for a DART train here in Dublin, but was looking at my phone and didn't notice it arriving, passengers getting on, and the doors closing. I looked up as it started to leave and raised my arms in a "oh wtf" gesture. The driver stopped the train, laughed at me and opened the doors again so I could get on... I figured that it might be an unlikely situation outside Ireland.
Show threadHilary DuffieldJan 16, 2023

@ganxel @rowyn @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

Amazing story - could only happen in special places.

Show threadRowynJan 17, 2023
@ganxel @_HilaryD_ @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies In the USA, it's not uncommon for municipal buses to stop for a passenger who's running late, if they see the person in time. I'm not sure that would happen with a train, but passenger trains are much less common in the USA in general (we don't have the population density of Europe so it's impractical in most of the country.)
Show threadJames WoodJan 15, 2023
@ClaireCopperman From the same background, I don't think it sounds odd at all.
Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 15, 2023

@mudri
We're all different, aren't we? I don't think I'd use "just about" in that context. I'd be far more likely to say "I only just caught the train." I think I use "just about" more to mean something's done, but could be better; ie:
- I've just about finished my assignment.
- I'm just about ready to leave.

ps - I love all the earnest discussion over one tiny bit of language: it gladdens my language-loving heart.
@rowyn @ColinTheMathmo @robinhouston @_HilaryD_

Show threadHilary DuffieldJan 15, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @mudri @rowyn @ColinTheMathmo @robinhouston
Yes, I was thinking today - I can't imagine this kind of reflective & analytical dialogue happening at the bird place....
Show threadStephanie J Lahey, PhDJan 15, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies Canadian here. They narrowly missed the train.
Show threadStephanie J Lahey, PhDJan 15, 2023
@copiesofcopies @roclaverton @ClaireCopperman @robinhouston (That said, it’s a weird, ambiguous construction, and I had to ponder it. My interpretation is based on the idiom “I just about died”, which usually expresses intense [albeit non-fatal] mortification. If someone said “I just about caught the train” to me, I’d ask for clarification.)
Show threadNeil GallJan 15, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies Also British (Scottish) English speaker here. Definitely sounds like a sweaty sweary moment on the platform as the train pulls away without you.
Show thread🏳️‍⚧️ Siobhán SarelleJan 15, 2023

@neilgall @ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

So, imagine someone saying “I just about caught the train” while being really annoyed, stressed and sweary.

“I JUST ABOUT THE CAUGHT THE TRAIN.. THE BASTARD!!!”

It seems weird.

Show threadAntony JohnstonJan 14, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies Yeah, this seems to very clearly be a UK/US thing. To a Brit they definitely caught it, but only “just about”, i.e. barely.
Show threadAilbheJan 14, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies hiberno English here, they caught the train by the skin of their teeth
Show threadKen Butler has movedJan 15, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies agreed. (Brit living in Canada, so I had to stop to ponder this, since I've heard both.)
Show threadBen RamseyJan 15, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies In my part of the English speaking world (southeastern US), "just about" means "almost."
Show threadNona RoseJan 15, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies I’m Australian. Definitely means they missed it here. Just about = almost or nearly. Given it’s past tense, they nearly caught it but didn’t.
Show threadsemibadJan 15, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies Haha yes exactly this
Show threadKim Spence-Jones #FBPEJan 15, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies UK here. I think they missed the train. If they wanted to say they caught the train with narrow timing, surely a Brit would say “I only just caught the train”?