a few blokes back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few blokes back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used informally to refer to a small number of people or men who were present or mentioned earlier in a conversation or narrative. Example: "I was chatting with a few blokes back at the pub last night, and they had some interesting stories to share."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We'll get a few blokes back next week," Anderson added.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It was a matter of just staying healthy towards the end and rest a few blokes.

The Guardian - Sport

A few blokes would tell you I was a bit greedy.

The Guardian - Sport

They've already signed a few blokes and they're obviously still wanting to move forward as a club.

BBC

Thank-you-very-much. Blazers: I saw a few blokes in suits.

Huffington Post

She took a few steps back.

The New York Times

A few steps back, another officer follows.

The New York Times

"It started a few months back.

BBC

"We met a few years back.

Los Angeles Times

Take a few steps back.

WikiHow

A few are fighting back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few blokes back", consider your audience; this phrase is informal and might not be appropriate for formal or professional settings. Choose a more neutral alternative such as "some people earlier" in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid mixing the informal phrase "a few blokes back" with formal language in the same sentence or paragraph. Maintain a consistent tone throughout your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few blokes back" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating when or where an action or situation occurred in relation to some men. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase refers to people mentioned or present at an earlier point in time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few blokes back" is a grammatically sound phrase best suited for informal communication, predominantly found in News & Media contexts. The phrase serves to reference a group of men mentioned earlier, as validated by Ludwig. While acceptable, it's crucial to consider audience and context when using this phrase due to its informal nature. Ludwig AI validates and exemplifies this notion, suggesting a consideration of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some guys earlier

Replaces "blokes" with the more general "guys" and uses "earlier" instead of "back" to indicate a previous time.

a couple of men before

Substitutes "few" with "couple" and "blokes" with "men", while "before" replaces "back" for temporal order.

some lads earlier on

Replaces "blokes" with "lads", another informal term, and adds "on" to "earlier" for emphasis.

a handful of chaps before

Replaces "few" with "handful" and "blokes" with the British slang "chaps", retaining a similar informal tone with a regional twist.

a number of fellows earlier

Replaces "few" with "number" and "blokes" with "fellows", maintaining an informal tone while varying the vocabulary.

several individuals previously

Uses more formal terms like "several" and "individuals" instead of "few" and "blokes", and "previously" for "back".

a selection of men beforehand

Uses "selection of men" to replace "a few blokes", creating a slightly more formal and descriptive alternative.

some people from before

Employs the general term "people" instead of "blokes", and uses "from before" to convey the idea of a prior time.

a small group beforehand

Substitutes "few" with "small group" and replaces "blokes" implicitly by focusing on the group, using "beforehand" for temporal context.

certain individuals from the past

Adopts a more detached and formal tone using "certain individuals" instead of "a few blokes", and "from the past" for "back".

FAQs

How can I use "a few blokes back" in a sentence?

You might say, "I was talking to "a few blokes back", and they mentioned the same thing", indicating a prior conversation with some men.

What's a more formal alternative to "a few blokes back"?

For formal contexts, consider using phrases like "some individuals earlier" or "several people previously" instead of ""a few blokes back"".

Is "a few blokes back" grammatically correct?

Yes, ""a few blokes back"" is grammatically correct in informal English. However, it's important to assess your audience before using it.

What does "a few blokes back" mean?

It means "some men from an earlier time or position", usually in an informal context. The phrase ""a few blokes back"" implies a casual reference to individuals previously mentioned or present.