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Usenet Posted 16 years ago
Usage
In the day; back in the day
When I first learned the phrses: in the day; and: back in the day, they referred to defineable days, I believe. The jazz era, the big band era, the period when Joanie and I toured with Guy Lombardo, etc. or maybe when we were both stationed on Guam.
But now people seem to use the phrases to mean something that "happened to me only several years ago." that no one else knew about, that likely wasn't even a particular period of my life. All that matters is that it was years ago.
Have any of you notice this change?
Posters should say where they live, and for which area they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years
But now people seem to use the phrases to mean something that "happened to me only several years ago." that no one else knew about, that likely wasn't even a particular period of my life. All that matters is that it was years ago.
Have any of you notice this change?
Posters should say where they live, and for which area they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years
Top answer
[nq:1]When I first learned the phrses: in the day; and: back in the day, they referred to defineable days, I ... period of my life. All that matters is that it was years ago.
- [nq:1]When I first learned the phrses: in the day; and: back in the day, they referred to defineable days, I ...
- period of my life.
- All that matters is that it was years ago.
- [/nq] Me: no.
- com/english /
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6 Answers
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[nq:1]When I first learned the phrses: in the day; and: back in the day, they referred to defineable days, I ... period of my life. All that matters is that it was years ago. Have any of you notice this change?[/nq]
Me: no.
Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/
Me: no.
Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/
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[nq:1]When I first learned the phrses: in the day; and: back in the day, they referred to defineable days, I ... period of my life. All that matters is that it was years ago. Have any of you notice this change?[/nq]
No, not really.
In BrE, when referring to an era, "days" are usually plural. The expressions are "In the/those days" and "Back in the/those days". An exception might be "In my
No, not really.
In BrE, when referring to an era, "days" are usually plural. The expressions are "In the/those days" and "Back in the/those days". An exception might be "In my
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[nq:1]Have any of you notice this change?[/nq]
Back in the day, 20 to 30 years ago, I did.
¬R Blood is worthless, outside its original container. http://users.bestweb.net/~notr/davidcar.html Don Rauf
Back in the day, 20 to 30 years ago, I did.
¬R Blood is worthless, outside its original container. http://users.bestweb.net/~notr/davidcar.html Don Rauf
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[nq:1]In BrE, when referring to an era, "days" are usually plural. The expressions are "In the/those days" and "Back in ... day or specific days, you would normally change the "in" to "on", as in "On that day", "On those days".[/nq]
"Back in the day", though, is a set idiom. Whether it is mainly AmE I can't say, but "back in the days" would be like "sure as eggs are eggs". Incidentally, I at l
"Back in the day", though, is a set idiom. Whether it is mainly AmE I can't say, but "back in the days" would be like "sure as eggs are eggs". Incidentally, I at l
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[nq:2]In BrE, when referring to an era, "days" are usually ... to "on", as in "On that day", "On those days".[/nq]
[nq:1]"Back in the day", though, is a set idiom. Whether it is mainly AmE I can't say, but "back in the days" would be like "sure as eggs are eggs". Incidentally, I at least have never heard or read bare "in the day".[/nq]
I think I only heard that once, an hour or two before
[nq:1]"Back in the day", though, is a set idiom. Whether it is mainly AmE I can't say, but "back in the days" would be like "sure as eggs are eggs". Incidentally, I at least have never heard or read bare "in the day".[/nq]
I think I only heard that once, an hour or two before
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[nq:1]"Back in the day", though, is a set idiom. Whether it is mainly AmE I can't say, but "back in the days" would be like "sure as eggs are eggs". Incidentally, I at least have never heard or read bare "in the day".[/nq]
I have. It's not unusual. When context has identified when the day was, it's common to abbreviate the expression.
John Varela
Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for em
I have. It's not unusual. When context has identified when the day was, it's common to abbreviate the expression.
John Varela
Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for em
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