soon come

Literally, "be there soon" or "return soon." See usage notes.

• IPA^(key): /suːn kʌm/
• Hyphenation: soon‧come

soon come

1. Ellipsis of mi soon come; (literal) I'll be right back; I'll be there soon.

   Mi lef mi billfol' a yard. Mi a guh fi it now. Soon come.

   I left my wallet at home. I'm going to go get it. I'll be right back.

   A: Mi tink se yuh did seh yuh a come a 5 o'clock. B: Soon come. Soon come.

   I thought you said you were coming at 5 o'clock. I'll be there soon.

2. one day, some day (used to evade responsibility)

   MISS P: Painter, yuh nuh seh yuh woulda come look pon mi wall fi mi? PAINTER: Soon come, Miss P. Soon come.

   MISS P: Painter, didn't you say you were going to take a look at my wall? PAINTER: One day, Miss P. One day.

   • [2018, Paul Wright, “When soon never came”, in The Jamaica Gleaner‎ (in English):

     “Nowhere to turn. No plan. Begging bowl in hand would not do. Not this time. Corporate Jamaica and other sponsors wanted a plan. There was none, hence "soon come" became the irritating response to the future of Tappa. […] ”]

While "soon come" literally means "be right back", in practice, "soon" means any duration between now and never.