BYKI

What Does BYKI Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

BYKI means "Before You Know It."

More Observations...

The abbreviation BYKI means something will happen sooner than you might expect, or almost immediately. Of note, "Before You Know It" is the title of a 2013 documentary looking at the lives and challenges of three gay senior citizens. The phrase "Before you can say Jack Robinson" (which means the same as BYKI) originated in the 1700s. Not much is known of Jack Robinson, although it is believed he was someone whose visits were so short, he barely had time to be announced before he'd left again.

Image for BYKI

When I write BYKI, I mean this:

BYKI means something will happen faster than you think.

Summary of Key Points

"Before You Know It" is, by far, the most common meaning for BYKI when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

BYKI
Definition:	Before You Know It
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of BYKI in Sentences

Here are examples of BYKI in conversations:

• Maria: Can we go to the shops?
• Nick: If you keep buying things you'll be broke BYKI.

• Tom: We've been going out with each other for eight years.
• Sue: So we have. BYKI we'll be engaged!

An Academic Look at BYKI

BYKI is an idiom, a phrase or saying that is not taken literally, but often uses colourful or imaginative language to describe something or someone.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "quicker than you think" instead of BYKI.

Example of BYKI Used in a Text

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