[General] "couple of years back"

[UM Chakma]

Hello dear all,

I have heard "couple of years back" used. Does it mean couple of years before or after?

I can't think of any context but I am sure I have heard that used.

 

[SoothingDave]

Before. Back in time.

 

[UM Chakma]

Before. Back in time.

If you don't can you please give me a context?

 

[SoothingDave]

He's settled down now, but a couple of years back he was a party animal.

 

[Rover_KE]

It means 'two years ago'.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It means 'two years ago'.

In AmE, in that use, "couple" would not be limited to precisely two years.

 

[emsr2d2]

In AmE, in that use, "couple" would not be limited to precisely two years.

In BrE, it would be assumed to be two years, but no-one would be surprised if it turned out to be three. It would be very unlikely to be one year, or four or more years.

 

[MikeNewYork]

In BrE, it would be assumed to be two years, but no-one would be surprised if it turned out to be three. It would be very unlikely to be one year, or four or more years.

Ignoring that some people have difficulty quantifying the passing of time, your statement would work in AmE as well.

 

[UM Chakma]

May I know what should I exactly mean when someone says "a couple of years"? Should I mean few years or just two years? I have checked my Cambridge dictionary and it says that couple generally means "some" and when it comes to the two it appears as "married couple", "young couples" etc.

 

[MikeNewYork]

May I know what should I exactly mean when someone says "a couple of years"? Should I mean few years or just two years? I have checked my Cambridge dictionary and it says that couple generally means "some" and when it comes to the two it appears as "married couple", "young couples" etc.

If you have read the thread, you will have noticed that the phrase is not precise when it comes to years. When it comes to a married couple it means 2.