Be Back Directly
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "be back directly" means to return soon, after a short while. It’s a long-standing regional expression that uses "directly" in the older Southern sense of "in a bit" or "before too long."
synonyms: be right back, be back soon, be back in a bit, be back before long
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, I heard 'be back directly' often, but said by my neighbor from the other side of the mountain. It could be that she'd be back shortly, or she may have said the same phrase to tell my friend not to stay over for long. I think this one is more regional. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, I heard 'be back directly' often, but said by my neighbor from the other side of the mountain. It could be that she'd be back shortly, or she may have said the same phrase to tell my friend not to stay over for long. I think this one is more regional. Pronunciation
[buh-ee back DRECK-lee]
/bə.iː bæk ˈdrɛkli/
/bə.iː bæk ˈdrɛkli/
Meaning & Usage
- To return after a short time (regional phrase)
Mae:
Where’s Earl headed now?
Where’s Earl headed now?
Earl:
Just runnin’ to the shed. I’ll be back directly.
Just runnin’ to the shed. I’ll be back directly.- An indefinite but not distant future time (regional phrase)
Elmer:
You comin’ to help stack wood?
You comin’ to help stack wood?
Estel:
Yep - I’ll be back directly. Don’t you start without me.
Yep - I’ll be back directly. Don’t you start without me.variations: be back d’reckly, be back d'rectly, be back in a minute (looser variant)
★ "Directly" in the South can mean "right away," but more often it means "after a little while." It’s not precise - and that’s part of the charm. If someone says they’ll be back directly, expect them soon" just not immediately. ★
Origin and Etymology
The use of "directly" to mean "soon" dates to British English of the 1700s and survived most strongly in the American South and Appalachia. Early Southern letters and diaries show forms like "I shall come directly," meaning "after a time." The clipped or altered pronunciations ("d’reckly," "d'rectly") reflect regional speech patterns tied to Scots-Irish settlement and Southern Midland influence.
Usage Notes
Still common in rural Southern and Appalachian communities, especially among older speakers. Younger Southerners recognize it but use it less often, sometimes with a humorous or nostalgic tone. Outside the South it may be misunderstood as "immediately," which is not how the regional meaning works.
- Often pronounced "d’reckly" or "d'rectly," depending on local accent.
- The phrase signals "soon," not "right now."
- Frequently used when stepping out briefly - to the garden, shed, store, or neighbor’s house.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 7). Be Back Directly. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/be-back-directly
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Be Back Directly." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/be-back-directly.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Be Back Directly." HillbillySlang.com. December 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/be-back-directly.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...