around 5.30ish

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,
While searching for explanation of ‘early doors’ came across ‘5.30ish.’: The doors are pub doors and the phrase refers to the quiet time in pubs - around 5.30ish. Of course that was in the days that pubs waited until late afternoon to open.
phrases.org.uk/bulletin_boar … s/634.html

  • Why not simply 5.30?
    Regards.
2

5:30 is exactly that time.
Around 5:30 is roughly that time, say, 5:20-5:40.
5:30ish is roughly that time, say, 5:20-5:40.

So around 5:30ish is both redundant and exceptionally vague.

3

Thank you, Mr. M.
Would it be a good idea to say,“It’s 5.30ish”, telling time?
Regards.

4

Hi, Yes if you are not sure about the time. I live in Wales and it`s especially common to use “ish” here. There are more situaitions, when you can use “ish”, read the example, below pls.

What was the weather like in Spain during your holiday? -It was hottish. (means it was hot but not especially hot).

5

Yes, biggish, childish, blondish…But 5.30ish I’ve come across for the first time.
Thank you, TIE.

6

Hello, Eugene:

I thought that you would like to know that here in the

United States, many men avoid saying things like “5:30ish.”

To some people (not all, of course) it seems to be a bit

UNmasculine.

James

7

Thank you, James, for your comment. That explains why I hadn’t met it before.
To deviate a little: My job is to make people money. If I don’t include every factor that moves a stock, market psychology included, then I’m not doing my job. - Thomas Kurlak
Do you consider “to make people money” good sounding? To my taste, it’s good American.

8

Hello, Eugene:

Well, the job of the entertainment industry is to make people happy or forget their problems.

So I guess your job to make people money is not only
“good” English but also a noble calling – in these economically
bad days!!!

In my city, the schools want to make every student a college graduate. An impossible and undesirable goal, in the opinion of
many people!!!

Sincerely,

James

P.S. Of course – grammatically speaking – "make people

happy" and “make students college graduates” are

objective complements. Make people so that they are happy/

college graduates.

And – strictly speaking - you do not promise to change people

into money!!! But – grammar or no grammar – I think that

“make people money” (make money for people) is good

idiomatic English. In other words, I am going to make them

rich persons.