Directly
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "directly" means "soon" or "after a little while." It doesn’t mean "in a straight line," but rather signals that something will happen before long.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
My neighbor growin' up would use 'directly' all the time. 'Come home directly!' to my friend. But she was from the other side of the mountain, so it's not something we said. I hear this one sometimes, but mainly old timers. Hillbilly Dude Says...
My neighbor growin' up would use 'directly' all the time. 'Come home directly!' to my friend. But she was from the other side of the mountain, so it's not something we said. I hear this one sometimes, but mainly old timers. Pronunciation
[duh-RECK-lee]
Meaning & Usage
- Soon, after a while (adverb)
Mae:
You comin’ over for supper?
You comin’ over for supper?
Earl:
Yeah, I’ll be there directly.
Yeah, I’ll be there directly.variations: soon, before long, after a while, presently, "in a bit"
★ When someone says "directly," don’t expect them right away. It could mean in a few minutes, or whenever they get around to it. ★
Origin and Etymology
From older English where "directly" meant "immediately." In Southern and Appalachian speech, the sense softened over time to mean "before long" or "soon."
Usage Notes
Still very common in the South and Appalachia. Outsiders sometimes expect immediacy, but locals know "directly" allows for a bit of leeway.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it loose: "duh-reck-lee." Often drawn out, depending on how soon you actually mean.