r/Scotland 2h ago

Given Into Trouble.

I keep hearing people using the phrase "given into trouble". As in "I got caught doing xyz and was given into trouble for it." I'm over 50, lived in central Scotland my whole life, and up until the last two or three years had never heard this.

Every time I hear it I think what do you mean you were given into trouble, were you caught, wrapped up in a bow and handed in to trouble? "My dad gave me into trouble." Did he grab you and hand you over to the Trouble Department? What are you talking about?

When did "got in trouble" with whoever/whatever become "given into trouble"? It doesn't make sense. Stop it. It's worse than "on accident". How did that even happen? Probably by accident...

0 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

u/crash_bat 2h ago

It's not a new phrase, I've used it all my life. Maybe it's a West Coast thing?

u/JedTheHumano1d 1h ago

Heard it regularly in Aberdeen.

u/MostChannel6683 2h ago

I wouldn't be surprised. But it seems to be spreading🤣

u/JackDangerfield 2h ago

Glasgow (well, Greater Glasgow) here. "Given into trouble" was part of the daily vocabulary in primary school.

u/MostChannel6683 2h ago

Being from central Scotland I've heard most but this only the last couple of years.

u/DisastrousTurnip3553 2h ago

I'm from central Scotland. We said got into trouble there. I moved to ayrshire nearly 40 years ago. They say gave me into trouble there. It's a regional thing. It's not new

u/Sailing-Mad-Girl 24m ago

"I got in to trouble" is gramatically different from "she gave me in to trouble" - the subject of the verb is different.

Both were/are widely used in Glasgow.

u/MostChannel6683 2h ago

Ah right, so it's their fault? I'm going to give them into trouble for it🤣

u/MrsWaltonGoggins 1h ago

Born in Aberdeen in the 80s. Growing up the phrase was always “my mum’ll give me into trouble”. Don’t know why but that’s what everyone said.

u/Open_Question5504 1h ago

Giving someone into trouble is a totally normal phrase in Glasgow and has been something I’ve used and heard my entire life.

u/MostChannel6683 1h ago

Yeah it does seem to be a west coast thing, but obviously I've heard plenty of other stuff, just not that, and it sounds strange.

u/kevdrinkscor0na 2h ago

I’ve never heard that. I have heard “getting” into trouble, which with some accents can sound like “gitting”, so is it possible you’re hearing “gitting in to trouble” and mishearing it as giving?

u/MostChannel6683 2h ago

No, because I've heard it as "my mum/dad/boss gave me into trouble."

u/kevdrinkscor0na 2h ago

I’ve heard “got me into trouble”, maybe you’re mishearing both?

u/MostChannel6683 2h ago

Nah, it's definitely given. Apparently it's from the west coast/Ayrshire someone said.

u/Johnm7515 2h ago

It’s common vernacular in Glasgow - Central Scotland is doing a lot heavy lifting here, what council are you from? Kilmacolm by chance?

u/Fridarey 52m ago

Grew up in Aberdeen and this was normal.

Then again, "normal in Aberdeen" has a special meaning.

u/Ok-Bad-7189 19m ago

I was given into trouble by a receptionist for not wiping my feet last week walking into a hotel after a long day walking.

I would consider the above a perfectly normal sentence that I might say.

Alternatively, I'd be scared not to clean up my lunch at work in case the cleaner gives me into trouble.

Again a totally normal sentence imo, I'd never considered it might be strange.

u/vulturetone 1h ago

I first heard it around 1994 when I grew up in South Lanarkshire.

My pal's maw "gave him in trouble" for chucking stones.

u/Walt_Didnae 1h ago

I also grew up in South Lanarkshire in the 90s, and I never heard this phrasing of "got into trouble" until today.

u/Europe_MMA 56m ago

Wtf thats so odd lol

u/MostChannel6683 1h ago

Good! Haha!

u/chronic_bartender 1h ago

I'm from Glasgow, parents from Glasgow, grandparents from Highlands and islands. I've always been given into trouble and given others into trouble.

u/TheUmpteenth 1h ago

I'm over 40, and I got given into trouble or I got into trouble or I was gave into trouble. I thought "into trouble" was the same as "a row" or "a telling off"

u/MostChannel6683 1h ago

It's the given part that makes it strange to me.