or thereabout
- idiom
:
aproximadamente
- But, you know, does it matter that he is talking for a couple hours every day or thereabouts on Twitter?
They tend to launch things either at GTC or thereabouts.
- They tend to launch things either at GTC or thereabouts.
- But, you know, does it matter that he is talking for a couple hours every day or thereabouts on Twitter?
Examples
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You should get an oil change in Boston or thereabout before coming back.
-
The meeting is scheduled for 10 AM, or thereabout, depending on everyone's availability.
-
That would mean 99.99325%, or thereabout, would be the percentage of peaceful protesters.
Blog text (17) -
The project will be completed in six months, or thereabout, if all goes according to plan.
-
They live in the nearby town, or thereabout, which makes it easy for them to visit.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Not exact but near a number, amount, or time
524
3.2
Near the exact number or amount
379
1.0
About an amount or number, not exact
373
1.6
About a number or amount that is not exact
301
2.1
About a number or idea, not exact but close enough
7
5.9
At about that time, date, or number
1
6.3
At about that time
1
6.5
At or near that time
People use it to say a number or time is close to but not exact
How Approximate
Surface Forms
Morphology
or + thereabout
The phrase means 'approximately that time/place/number' and this is directly derivable from the constituents: 'thereabout' conveys approximation near that point and 'or' signals an alternative/approximation. The composition follows a straightforward, cross-linguistically common pattern for giving approximate values, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would readily recover the meaning.
Etymology
Or thereabout may come from joining there, meaning that time or place, and about, meaning around. When you say a time or number and add or thereabout, you mean it is close to that point, not exact, so the phrase now means 'approximately' or 'about that point'.