{"id":7566,"date":"2022-08-13T18:06:52","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T18:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=7566"},"modified":"2022-08-13T18:06:52","modified_gmt":"2022-08-13T18:06:52","slug":"tbc-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/tbc-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"TBC \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you have to cut a conversation short? You could tell the other person \u2018TBC<\/em>\u2019 to let them know you\u2019ll chat to them later.<\/p>\n

This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The acronym \u2018TBC<\/em>\u2019 stands for \u2018to be continued<\/em>.\u2019 It\u2019s common to see this phrase when you\u2019re watching TV shows, and they want to break the rest of the story into the following episode. <\/strong><\/p>\n

If a TV show ends with \u2018to be continued<\/em>,\u2019 it will pick up where it left off in the next episode.<\/p>\n

TBC<\/em> in text communications also means \u2018to be continued<\/em>.\u2019 It means your conversation or action remains unfinished, and you\u2019ll get to it at a later stage. TBC<\/em> is commonly used to create a pause in a text conversation and to let the other party to the discussion know you want to pick it up at a later date.<\/p>\n

TBC<\/em> has the alternative meaning of \u2018to be confirmed<\/em>,\u2019 but it\u2019s less common in conversations, and most people use it to abbreviate \u2018to be continued<\/em>.\u2019<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cI get what you\u2019re saying, but TBC. I have to head out for an appointment now. We\u2019ll pick this up where we left off in a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTBC. I have something I have to handle right now, but I want to continue this discussion with you later. Give me half an hour, and I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTBC, I\u2019m going to the store quickly for some groceries. Make sure you\u2019re here when I get back, and we\u2019ll pick it up where we left off, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, sure, TBC. I\u2019ll just wait here for you. How long do you think you\u2019ll be at the dentist's? I\u2019m keen to wrap this up today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like where this is heading, and I think we all need a break. TBC, come back after you clear your head, and we\u2019ll discuss it further.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression 'TBC' has unknown origins. Language experts cannot pinpoint when the phrase first entered the English lexicon or who coined its use. The earliest entry of the expression into the Urban Dictionary is in April 2005.<\/p>\n

The phrase 'to be continued' has been used since at least the 1960s in TV series and movies. However, it's unclear when the acronym 'TBC' appeared in English as a replacement for 'to be continued.' However, language experts think it comes from the era of text messaging in the late 1990s and 2000s.<\/p>\n

People would use acronyms to shorten common sentences used in texting. It's part of the first generations of text acronyms, such as 'LOL.'<\/p>\n

Phrases Similar to TBC<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Phrases Opposite to TBC<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • This is it.<\/li>\n
    • It\u2019s over.<\/li>\n
    • It looks like you\u2019ve reached the end.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n
        \n
      • TBC.<\/li>\n
      • To Be Continued.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Ways People May Say TBC Incorrectly<\/h2>\n

        The acronym 'TBC' is usually used in text communications. You can use it in verbal exchanges, but it's more common for people to say all three words in the phrase rather than use the acronym.<\/p>\n

        Acceptable Ways to Phrase TBC<\/h2>\n

        You can use the acronym 'TBC' in social situations when you want to let someone know that you'll pick up a conversation with them at a later date. It can also describe occasions where you have to stop something and continue it later. The saying suits verbal exchanges and text messaging.<\/p>\n

        Typically, you'll use the acronym 'TBC' in text messages and word the entire phrase 'to be continued' in verbal exchanges. For instance, you could be discussing something with your partner when the phone rings. You'll use 'to be continued' to let them know you're going to pick up the conversation with them after you finish your call.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Do you have to cut a conversation short? You could tell the other person \u2018TBC\u2019 to let them know you\u2019ll chat to them later. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The acronym \u2018TBC\u2019 stands for \u2018to be continued.\u2019 It\u2019s common to see this phrase when you\u2019re watching TV shows, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7566"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7985,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7566\/revisions\/7985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}