A Scottish English phrase meaning 'in turn' or 'alternately' — each person or party taking a turn in succession. Typically used in practical, everyday contexts such as sharing duties, taking shifts, or dividing tasks fairly. The phrase has a practical, communal flavor, reflecting a culture of fair rotation. While it may sound archaic to outsiders, it remains in active use in parts of Scotland and is immediately understood by Scots. Neutral in register and usable in both formal and informal speech.
The two brothers looked after their elderly mother time about, each taking a week in turn.
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(Scotland) In turn; by turns; alternately.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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