A interesting English expression I’ve noticed in novels I’ve been reading recently is the verb to pop, which is often accompanied by prepositions such as out, in, round and down, and preceded by just.
For example:
– I’m just popping out to the shop, do you want anything?
– I might pop in at some point for a peek at your pictures.
– I popped down to the pub last night.
It usually means to go somewhere for a short time and then return to wherever you were. In some contexts drop (by/round) can be used instead of pop: “Do pop in / drop by if you’re free this afternoon”, for example.
Words can also just pop out without you thinking about them first, e.g. “I didn’t mean to say that – it just popped out.” [source]
Are there expressions in other languages that have a similar meaning?
Yes. “pop out” is one of those quintessentially English expressions that must be (nearly) untranslatable. Another is “potter about”. Spent a happy drunken evening a couple of years ago with a French friend attempting the mission impossible of coming up with a translation for the latter.
Hello MadFall,
I checked Wiktionary and find this explanation.
“To potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner.”
Is this the correct meaning? This is my first time to see “potter about”.
R – that is a good definition of “to potter (about)”. I think it’s mainly used in British English.
I have never heard “potter about” in northeastern US. I think it’s time to introduce it…
I think these are common to UK English…I’ve always used them. It can also mean ‘to put somewhere’ as well eg: ‘Just pop it on the counter’