Do you have a hard limit?

All through this week in meetings, people kept on saying to each other, ‘Is that a hard limit? 11.15? Is that hard?’ or words to that effect.

The usage appears to be used to indicate that if you *have* to leave a meeting at 11.15, for example, that is terms as a ‘hard’ limit or end.

But if the meeting is meant to end at 11.15, but if the other party can afford a bit of extra time, that’s a ‘soft’ limit or end.

On the basis that the vast majority of SMS Text News readers are frequently in and out of meetings, I wondered if anyone could tell me if they’ve a) used the terminology or b) heard of it being used.

It’s crept up on me over the past month or so. Now it’s everywhere.

When asked the question, ‘Is 4.30pm your hard limit?’ in a meeting earlier this week, I replied, ‘No, I just have to leave at 4.30pm’ to bemused and confused faces……..