General
after
What does after mean?
The 'after perfect': 'to be after doing something' means to have just done it.
"I'm only after eating my dinner."
Origin
Calque of Irish 'tar éis' / 'i ndiaidh' (after) construction into English.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'I'm after doing X' mean?
It means you have just done something. 'I'm after eating my dinner' means 'I've just eaten my dinner'.
Where does the 'after' construction come from?
It is a calque (direct translation) of the Irish 'tar éis' / 'i ndiaidh' construction, carried into Hiberno-English.
Is 'after' used this way in standard English?
No. This 'after perfect' is a distinctive feature of Hiberno-English and is not used the same way in standard British or American English.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
