"mind the time"

Posted by Bob on November 27, 2005

In Reply to: "mind the time" posted by Victoria S Dennis on November 27, 2005

: : : : What is the origin of the phrase "mind the time" meaning "remember"? Is it Irish or American?

: : : Not a common American usage. Sounds a lot more like a bartender's "pay attention; it's almost closing time. Last call."

: : I (from the U.S.) have heard it used in this way, to pay attention to, understand. "Mind you don't knock over the lamp." "Now, mind, he didn't have to do that."

: : Merriam-Webster online:

: : Main Entry: 2mind
: : Function: verb
: : transitive senses
: : 1 chiefly dialect : REMIND
: : 2 chiefly dialect : REMEMBER
: : 3 : to attend to closely
: : 4 a : to become aware of : NOTICE : to regard with attention : consider important -- often used in the imperative with following you for emphasis. I'm not against inspiration, mind you; I simply refuse to sit and stare at a blank page waiting for it -- Dennis Whitcomb> b chiefly dialect : INTEND, PURPOSE
: : 5 a : to give heed to attentively in order to obey b : to follow the orders or instructions of
: : 6 a : to be concerned about b : DISLIKE. I don't mind going.
: : 7 a : to be careful : SEE Mind you finish it. b : to be cautious about Mind the broken rung.
: : 8 : to give protective care to : TEND
: : intransitive senses
: : 1 : to be attentive or wary
: : 2 : to become concerned : CARE
: : 3 : to pay obedient heed or attention
: : - mind·er noun

: "Mind" means "remember" in Scots - and also Nothern Irish Protestant dialect which has a lot of Scots input - so you get phrases like "I mind the time when..." (VSD)

What I meant by not common American usage was "mind the time," not "mind" in general. We commonly use "mind your manners," for example.