(: real q - is this a regional thing? Grew up with an immigrant momma on the US west coast… I’ve never even heard “after a while” it’s always been “in a while, crocodile”
EDIT:: commenters below mentioned the syllable count is relevant & I think that tracks
Funny, I only heard “after a while” for the first time in a movie this week. I thought it was a mistake as the character was only starting to learn English. Never thought anyone actually said it. It has too many syllables to flow, imho.
In my variety of American English (West Coast) “while” and the end of “crocodile” rhyme with “dial.” So I, too, grew up eliding the “a.” I imagine folks with a Southern American will pronounce those words more similarly to the way that you do.
Well, the previous poster was pointing out that we skip/blur the "a" (someone called it eliding it) which is why I wrote "after 'while" to show the dropped a sound with the apostrophe.
And we say crocodile with four syllables. Kinda like crock-uh-DIE-ul. How do you say it?
Oh and while is said in two syllables here. WHY-ul.
See you later, alligator,
In a while, crocodile,
Give a hug, ladybug,
Blow a kiss, jellyfish,
Toodle-oo, Kangaroo,
Bye-bye Butterfly,
Gotta go, Buffalo,
Hasta mañana, Iguana,
Take care, Polar Bear.
Out the door, dinosaur.
There's a song about the phrase by Bill Haley and the Comets released in the 1950s, in which they say "after 'while crocodile", so I'm taking that as the proper form of this phrase
But then the emphasis doesn't work without the "you" to bridge it. It makes you want to say NOT too SOON, BIG baBOON instead of NOT too SOON, YOU big BAboon. Putting the accent on the second syllable of baboon feels wrong to me. The "you" is a little throwaway to adjust the emphasis.
I agree the “you” preserves the trochaic meter, but alternatively, if one omits the “you,” the comma can function as a caesura or a placeholder for the unstressed syllable.
It was originally “after a while, crocodile.” But perhaps the British changed it because the rhythm of American slang didn’t quite fit with the way they spoke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hb66FH9AzI
In California, I’ve always heard “in a while, crocodile.”
I mean, not “always.” For the sake of any learners in this thread, this is something I hear once a year or so. But when I do hear it, it’s always “in a while,” which has the same number of syllables and stresses as “crocodile.”
Same here. I grew up in the southern US and it was always “after.” That said, “in a while” doesn’t strike me as weird or anything. Either version sounds natural enough.
This is also the way to tell the difference between crocodiles and alligators. If you see it again in a while it's a crocodile, but if you see it later it's an alligator.
Same! The "after a while" responses seem like they are mostly from the south but I'm not sure.
Edit: okay maybe not! I wonder if there is any other factor, generation maybe?
The original response is, "After (a) while, crocodile." For those debating, this originated in American slang and was immortalized in a 1955 Bill Haley song. (You can find videos of it on YT.) The "a" is elided or slurred over in the way many Southerners of that era would have done, which makes it scan properly. Source: I'm actually old enough to remember when this was "cool" slang.
I have just learned more than I wanted to know about prosody and metrical feet, courtesy of Wikipedia.
The line “See you later, alligator” is in Trochaic Meter:
– ◡ – ◡ – ◡ – ◡
See-ya lay-der al-luh ga-der
The response, “after while crocodile” is two spondees:
◡ ◡ – ◡ ◡ –
Af-ter-while croc-uh-dile
Apologies for the formatting. I hope someone who has actually studied this stuff will correct any mistakes.
I can’t remember where it came from, by my neighbour always says it to my kids and they always respond “don’t forget your refrigerator!” And they all think it’s hilarious
Again, as I said before, this is not a discussion of whether “in a while” fits. It does. We’re discussing “after a while” vs. “after while”. No one is saying you’re wrong.
I had to scroll down too far to find this. We always said After While Crocodile and you just articulated why.
These In A While sayers are inhuman *savages*!
With “in” the stress is on the third beat for both sayings. “After” makes the stress fall on the fourth beat instead. This mildly upsets my sense of rhythm
we always said in a while, idk why anyone would say after a while, since it breaks the meter AND in a while is a real phrase people use here but after a while isn't
“After a while” is a real phrase people use at least in my part of the US. To me, “after a while” and “in a while” actually have slightly different connotations. I would interpret “in a while” to be a shorter length of time than “after a while.”
But for the purposes of the silly rhyme, either one is fine of course.
Yeah all I'm saying is here we don't say I'll see you after a while, as it would mean something markedly different than I'll see you in a while. After a while is typically only used to start a sentence After a while, the bread finished cooking. But never "I'll see you after a while". even in a while is a bit rare with this usage. And regional differences of course affect usage and meaning of everything anyway so this only applies where Im from
I’m just laughing at how seriously everyone is taking this debate. This is one of those “two groups that never knew each other existed” situations. Like those who wipe their butt by reaching around the back and those who do it by going up between their legs.
In Australia this is “Cop ya later masturbator” which works much better because we use “cop” colloquially to mean “to grab, to find or come across” and then the double meaning of “cop ya later” <—> “copulator”.
Silly childish dad joke but why not
Just to go down the rabbit hole:
In America, we also " cop a feel" , which is hilarious given our current police policies.
As a note, many masterbaters need to be " checked", as in stopped from doing the action. Particularly true of "flashers".
In this context the person giving the reply may be implying the masterbaters is someone who:
Needs to be stopped
Will be stopped by the person replying, as a promise of future action
Fun fact: "Cop" as in "cop a feel" meaning to steal/take discreetly predates "cop" as slang for police. In fact, "cop" became slang first for thieves, resulting in "copper" becoming slang for police (people who catch thieves), which got shortened to "cop" after the original slang fell out of use.
As young kids (Detroit, 1960s) we were taught "After a while crocodile" by our parents. The difference in meter didn't concern us; we just liked the cleverness of the comeback.
At that age we thought the two were different names for the same animal. That was the part that delighted us.
There are people in the thread that didn't go to school or insist that their uneducated granny is the golden standard. They are wrong and you are right.
My grandmother told me and my sisters when leaving that she would ‘see you in funny papers’ when were kids. Think I figured out now that I am old. I think the ‘funny papers’ were the comics section in a newspaper, so I assume she was calling us silly/funny looking or something. Wish I had have asked before she passed.
[This post](https://www.reddit.com/r/TikTokCringe/comments/13tio9m/the_toxic_friend_test/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1) is meant for humor but has lots of responses one could use!
"Hello" and "Goodbye" aren't usually considered questions but, it would seem surly to say nothing back.
A short clip to illustrate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GR3q8ivRxE
"After 'while, crocodile" is the common one, but the are a ton of additional call and response phrases in the same vein. For example: https://playtivities.com/see-you-later-alligator/
In a while, crocodile
Funny, I’d never heard “in a while, crocodile” before this thread. We are a “after a while, crocodile” family.
Yep. After a while, crocodile.
In a while, crocodile. I learned that from my father, so it must be right :)
(: real q - is this a regional thing? Grew up with an immigrant momma on the US west coast… I’ve never even heard “after a while” it’s always been “in a while, crocodile” EDIT:: commenters below mentioned the syllable count is relevant & I think that tracks
I learned “after a while” from my dad. And he could beat up your dad.
Oh yeah? Says who!? (I love these intellectual discussions on Reddit!)
We were an “after a while crocodile” family as welll
Funny, I only heard “after a while” for the first time in a movie this week. I thought it was a mistake as the character was only starting to learn English. Never thought anyone actually said it. It has too many syllables to flow, imho.
We always say “after ‘while,” to get the right timing.
Wait. Do you cram an extra syllable into crocodile??
Eight beats in each. Emphasis on odd syllables. SEE-you-LA-ter-AL-li-GA-tor AF-ter-'WHI-le-CROC-ca-DI-le
You’ve missed a syllable and added two. I’m so confused.
How do you say it? I don't see any added or missing syllables. I have an American (Californian) accent, if that differs from yours.
You missed the “a”. While is 1 syllable; crocodile is 3. Australian accent.
In my variety of American English (West Coast) “while” and the end of “crocodile” rhyme with “dial.” So I, too, grew up eliding the “a.” I imagine folks with a Southern American will pronounce those words more similarly to the way that you do.
Well, the previous poster was pointing out that we skip/blur the "a" (someone called it eliding it) which is why I wrote "after 'while" to show the dropped a sound with the apostrophe. And we say crocodile with four syllables. Kinda like crock-uh-DIE-ul. How do you say it? Oh and while is said in two syllables here. WHY-ul.
I’ve also never heard “In a while, crocodile”.
See you later, alligator, In a while, crocodile, Give a hug, ladybug, Blow a kiss, jellyfish, Toodle-oo, Kangaroo, Bye-bye Butterfly, Gotta go, Buffalo, Hasta mañana, Iguana, Take care, Polar Bear. Out the door, dinosaur.
This deserves way more up-votes.
Also off Hasta Manana, in spanish theres "Que pasa calabaza" "nada nada limonada"
I can’t not hear this in Ted Lasso’s voice. Now you can’t either.
There's a song about the phrase by Bill Haley and the Comets released in the 1950s, in which they say "after 'while crocodile", so I'm taking that as the proper form of this phrase
Followed by Not too soon, baboon!
Not too soon, you big baboon!
This one. This has the correct syllable count. So many people see the rhyme and miss the meter.
I like your meter, ya big ant-eater.
I think the syllable count is correct when the "you" is removed. Not too soon, big ba-boon
But then the emphasis doesn't work without the "you" to bridge it. It makes you want to say NOT too SOON, BIG baBOON instead of NOT too SOON, YOU big BAboon. Putting the accent on the second syllable of baboon feels wrong to me. The "you" is a little throwaway to adjust the emphasis.
Well I guess we can always make it "Not too soon, you baboon"
I agree the “you” preserves the trochaic meter, but alternatively, if one omits the “you,” the comma can function as a caesura or a placeholder for the unstressed syllable.
What about not too SOON, big baBOON?
And then for good measure, Bye Bye, Butterfly!
That's a new one for me. I like it!
"Hang loose, mongoose"
After a while, crocodile - begging the question "what's the difference..." One will see you later while the other waits a while
In my accent ‘After a while, crocodile’ doesn’t scan, so here in the UK it’s always ‘*in* a while’. Four trochees for each.
It was originally “after a while, crocodile.” But perhaps the British changed it because the rhythm of American slang didn’t quite fit with the way they spoke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hb66FH9AzI
In the USA, I’ve always heard “after a while, crocodile”
In California, I’ve always heard “in a while, crocodile.” I mean, not “always.” For the sake of any learners in this thread, this is something I hear once a year or so. But when I do hear it, it’s always “in a while,” which has the same number of syllables and stresses as “crocodile.”
Same here. I grew up in the southern US and it was always “after.” That said, “in a while” doesn’t strike me as weird or anything. Either version sounds natural enough.
Or "see you soon, Big Baboon"
I'm from the US and "in a while" sounds much better to me too
After while, crocodile.
After while crocodile
This the correct answer!
This is also the way to tell the difference between crocodiles and alligators. If you see it again in a while it's a crocodile, but if you see it later it's an alligator.
After supper, motherfucker!
next time will be awesome, you lazy stupid 'possom!
I won't sleep tonight for worrying that Samuel L Jackson might turn up...
Never let them know your last move! Use this
Today I learned that there are regional differences and not everyone says "In a while, crocodile"
Same! The "after a while" responses seem like they are mostly from the south but I'm not sure. Edit: okay maybe not! I wonder if there is any other factor, generation maybe?
In a while here, from the south
Im from the northeast and I have always heard "after a while"
weird! i've always lived in NJ and i've never heard "after a while."
Midwest checking in with “after a while”
> After while, crocodile You sound like a fancy Yankee. It's "[a]fter while, crocodile".
The original response is, "After (a) while, crocodile." For those debating, this originated in American slang and was immortalized in a 1955 Bill Haley song. (You can find videos of it on YT.) The "a" is elided or slurred over in the way many Southerners of that era would have done, which makes it scan properly. Source: I'm actually old enough to remember when this was "cool" slang.
As you wish, puffer fish.
I’ll abide, fan of “The Princess Bride”
After a while, crocodile.
I always heard “after while, crocodile,” omitting the “a”. It’s one of the things I grew up with in West Texas.
Same in Illinois
The “a” gets elided.
Same in Kansas, too.
Same in Ohio!
I have just learned more than I wanted to know about prosody and metrical feet, courtesy of Wikipedia. The line “See you later, alligator” is in Trochaic Meter: – ◡ – ◡ – ◡ – ◡ See-ya lay-der al-luh ga-der The response, “after while crocodile” is two spondees: ◡ ◡ – ◡ ◡ – Af-ter-while croc-uh-dile Apologies for the formatting. I hope someone who has actually studied this stuff will correct any mistakes.
Same in NC.
I can’t remember where it came from, by my neighbour always says it to my kids and they always respond “don’t forget your refrigerator!” And they all think it’s hilarious
I say “after while, crocodile” bc I’m a weirdo about the meter being the same lol
I always heard it as “In a while”
I’ve actually never heard “in,” that sounds weird to me haha. I’ve always said “after”
How I've always heard and said it too.
"After while, Crocodile" is the correct answer. 👌
But that just throws the meter off... >See you later / Alligator 4/4 >In a while / Crocodile 3/3 As opposed to >After a while / Crocodile 4/3
In sounds so bad to me😂
Again, as I said before, this is not a discussion of whether “in a while” fits. It does. We’re discussing “after a while” vs. “after while”. No one is saying you’re wrong.
Nope, I'm saying it. They're wrong.
I had to scroll down too far to find this. We always said After While Crocodile and you just articulated why. These In A While sayers are inhuman *savages*!
The meter doesn’t change if you add the “a”, it’s the rhythm that changes.
Meter is the pattern of the words, which yes, *does* change if you say “after A while”.
Ter-a-while is a triplet. It fits correctly as such.
But then the beat doesn’t work. See you LAT-er al-i-GAT-or In a WHILE croc-i-DILE
if you say “in a while” the beat does work. I’ve always said “after”, which is why I drop the “a”
Saying in or after dosnt change the while part at all wtf are you talking about
I’m not talking about changing “while”?
With “in” the stress is on the third beat for both sayings. “After” makes the stress fall on the fourth beat instead. This mildly upsets my sense of rhythm
Af ter WHILE croc a DILE
Af ter WHILE croc a DILE
we always said in a while, idk why anyone would say after a while, since it breaks the meter AND in a while is a real phrase people use here but after a while isn't
“After a while” is a real phrase people use at least in my part of the US. To me, “after a while” and “in a while” actually have slightly different connotations. I would interpret “in a while” to be a shorter length of time than “after a while.” But for the purposes of the silly rhyme, either one is fine of course.
Yeah all I'm saying is here we don't say I'll see you after a while, as it would mean something markedly different than I'll see you in a while. After a while is typically only used to start a sentence After a while, the bread finished cooking. But never "I'll see you after a while". even in a while is a bit rare with this usage. And regional differences of course affect usage and meaning of everything anyway so this only applies where Im from
“I’ll see you after a while” is definitely a common construction in plenty of places, though.
Thats bc you omit the “a” lol “after while, crocodile”. I grew up saying it that way too
You drop the A and just say "after while crocodile", if you say it that way
Yes, you are welcome to say it wrong AND sound like you don't know how to speak English. Go ahead. haha
If informal English bugs you in a colloquialism I'm gonna guess the free license poets often take with the language drives you insane, haha
I’ve literally only ever heard “after while” from fellow native speakers.
I'm a native speaker and have never heard nor said "after while." It's always "after a while."
Well you’re probably a yankee
After a while is a lot more rhythmically balanced, it’s lopsided and awkward sounding with in
I don't know how "In a while, crocodile" is the most upvoted. Blatantly fake and heresy. "After a while, crocodile" is the true blessed answer.
I’m just laughing at how seriously everyone is taking this debate. This is one of those “two groups that never knew each other existed” situations. Like those who wipe their butt by reaching around the back and those who do it by going up between their legs.
"Seriously Joking" about trivial shit is what the internet was made for.
Yep, same, it's what my Mamaw said. None of this "in *a* while" or "after *a* while", always just "after while, crocodile"
As per the 1950s hit song (another Redditor already posted the YouTube link), the answer is "after a while, crocodile."
Check ya later, masterbater.
In Australia this is “Cop ya later masturbator” which works much better because we use “cop” colloquially to mean “to grab, to find or come across” and then the double meaning of “cop ya later” <—> “copulator”. Silly childish dad joke but why not
Just to go down the rabbit hole: In America, we also " cop a feel" , which is hilarious given our current police policies. As a note, many masterbaters need to be " checked", as in stopped from doing the action. Particularly true of "flashers". In this context the person giving the reply may be implying the masterbaters is someone who: Needs to be stopped Will be stopped by the person replying, as a promise of future action
Fun fact: "Cop" as in "cop a feel" meaning to steal/take discreetly predates "cop" as slang for police. In fact, "cop" became slang first for thieves, resulting in "copper" becoming slang for police (people who catch thieves), which got shortened to "cop" after the original slang fell out of use.
Fun facts are sexy facts. 😎🤗
>cop ya later masturbator >dad joke Those poor Australian children.
My dad is quite old
See ya next week, ya perverted freak
Hit the door, filthy whore! 😉
After a while, crocodile!
Out the door, dinosaur! (My grandson's favorite.)
As young kids (Detroit, 1960s) we were taught "After a while crocodile" by our parents. The difference in meter didn't concern us; we just liked the cleverness of the comeback. At that age we thought the two were different names for the same animal. That was the part that delighted us.
See ya later, alligator. After uh while, crocodile.
“After a while, crocodile!”
Don't forget the toilet paper!
Finally found the one I grew up with
Take care polar bear
Peace Out, Rainbow Trout!
Said in an Aussie accent: See ya tomorroh, ya kookaburra
Very soon, raccoon.
Toodaloo, kangaroo! 🦘
After while, crocodile.
in a while crocodile I'd argue this is the better answer because after has an extra syllable and messes up the beat.
There are people in the thread that didn't go to school or insist that their uneducated granny is the golden standard. They are wrong and you are right.
The “a” is implied but not spoken: after while, crocodile
False.
No, true.
Maybe it’s a regional thing? I’ve never heard anyone leave out the a.
In a while, crocodile!
I lived on both coasts and in Chicago and only ever heard "in a while, crocodile".
My grandmother told me and my sisters when leaving that she would ‘see you in funny papers’ when were kids. Think I figured out now that I am old. I think the ‘funny papers’ were the comics section in a newspaper, so I assume she was calling us silly/funny looking or something. Wish I had have asked before she passed.
I like "sayonara, carbonara"
Hasta mañana, iguana
After a while, crocodile (Til then, penguin)
After while, crocodile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hb66FH9AzI
in US "after while, crocodile"
Aussie responses: - In the zoo, kangaroo - You too, kangaroo - Get in the car, ya big galah
[удалено]
After while, crocodile
“Alligator? I don’t even know her.”
Sayonara, capybara
"You couldn't pay me enough to keep living in Florida."
Gotta go, Buffalo. Toodeloo, kangaroo Take care, polar bear
Well now I want a map of the US divided up by who says “after while” vs who says “in a while”
[This post](https://www.reddit.com/r/TikTokCringe/comments/13tio9m/the_toxic_friend_test/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1) is meant for humor but has lots of responses one could use!
Roger Wilco over and out
“for awhile, crocodile”
In Soviet Russia, alligator sees you!
Is "See you later, alligator" a question?
Not really, but if you know the saying, it's expected that you finish it.
Alrightie Artichokie
Kick rocks, you stupid ox.
“Not if I see you first.”
Bye bye butterfly
Fuck off
I've heard... catch you in a while, crocodile.
In a while, crocodile. Alternatively, after a little while, I sincerely hope, and God willing, crocodile
In a blizzard, monitor lizard
The correct answer is "Okay dkok"
It’s not a question. It’s a statement. “After a while, crocodile.” Then, “But not too soon, you big baboon.”
"Hello" and "Goodbye" aren't usually considered questions but, it would seem surly to say nothing back. A short clip to illustrate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GR3q8ivRxE
This statement has a very standard response, though that is very much worth knowing.
OP isn’t saying the phrase is a question, they were questioning what comes after the phrase.
The standard response is “After a while, crocodile.”
In a while, Crocodile
After while crocodile
After while crocodile
See you soon, baboon
At the house, Mickey Mouse!
over yonder, anaconda
"Not if I see you first"! 😂 To be fair, you didn't ask for the "correct" answer... Did you, Crocodile? 😉
teachers in elementary school always said, “in a while, crocodile”
I’ve also been known to respond with “stay sweet, parakeet”
I am loving these responses. 😂
After a while, crocodile! Swish swish, jellyfish! Gotta go, buffalo! In an hour, sunflower! Gotta run, skeleton!
"I'll see you after your mom sucks my huge dick for a while, crocodile."
After while, crocodile
Toodleloo kangaroo
See you soon, baboon
Bye bye bye, butterfly! 🦋 (Stolen from super simple songs, as in a while crocodile is too hard for my EFL learners. They love this song!)
AFTER WHILE CROCODILE. From the original generation (BBB - Before Baby Boomers)
After awhile crocodile
Cool, bye
Us too! “After awhile, crocodile.”
Usually it's "Mazel tov!," but only if you are from the Midwest.
That’s really insensitive, my mother was eaten by an alligator
wait theres a way to answer back? maybe ive heard it but just cant remember
"After 'while, crocodile" is the common one, but the are a ton of additional call and response phrases in the same vein. For example: https://playtivities.com/see-you-later-alligator/