MovieChat Forums > The Eagle Has Landed (1976) Discussion > incorrect use of Irish term 'after'?

incorrect use of Irish term 'after'?

posted 15 years ago by obrien43
6 replies | jump to latest

At about 1:59, Sutherland tells Caine he's remaining behind:

S: I'm not leavin
C: I beg your pardon?
S: I'm after stayin here.

The Irish use the word "after" the same as other English-speakers, but they also use it to refer to a recently completed action; e.g., "I'm after eatin my breakfast" (I just ate breakfast).

Is Sutherland using "after" in the wrong context? Or can it also apply in the sense of "going after" something, which seems to be the only way it makes sense here? I'm a Yank but familiar w/Irish slang.

[–] Fellwanderer 15 years ago

It is also used, infrequently I'll admit, in parts of the UK to mean "I intend" or "I want to". I always took it to be said in that context.

HTH

[–] obrien43 15 years ago

Thank you, fellwanderer...so it's a British expression, and not Irish? Ironic for an IRA man!

[–] Fellwanderer 15 years ago

Well, I'd certainly say it wasn't specifically Irish. Another use, in similar context, would be "I'm after a copy of.." meaning "I'd like a copy of.." - and that is much more common. I should have thought of that last night when I originally replied.

[–] obrien43 15 years ago

Yes, that context fits.

Its similarity to the Hiberno-English sense of "after" led me to think Sutherland or the writers were trying too hard to sound authentic, and failed. Guess not!

Thanks again for your insight.

[–] Sid-Blitzen 10 years ago

The Irish verb "to be after" doing something has frequently been misused in movies.
There is the time before I performed the action; the time during which I was performing the action; and the time after which I have performed the action.
"I'm just after doing it" refers to the time after which I have performed the action. It is the recent past tense, not the future tense.

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 10 years ago

It's also used to mean "I've decided on" or "made up my mind on". So it still possesses a past tense.
on"

Glasgow's FOREMOST authority -Italics = irony. Infer the opposite please.