Why is it called 'after dark', when it is really after light?

Answer 1

Maybe it means after it first becomes dark.

Answer 2

Interesting thing about language is that you are free to make a good deal of assumptions and interpatations of it on your own as to what YOU choose to believe or accept ---- the dicatomy here though---is that in order for you to actually make sense to the rest of the world around you---you have to be using THEIR interpretations and accepted norms !!
After dark has meant the same for centuries and will continue to be used as the accepted for night because its use is generally accepted as meaning ---After dark has ARRIVED

And using the "makes sense" graph you are using here---there would be a whole realignment of language that would have to occur in order to satisfy a whole host of other annomolies with the "normal" usage---- what will you do with the phrase "DAYBREAK"----does the day actually BREAK when it arrives ?? How about " the crack of Dawn" --- is this just before the day breaks ??
Just a couple of thoughts for you before you change careers and become a language developer (and by the way -- the pay is horribly under scale ) !!!!

Answer 3

Its used to refer to the time period after then sun goes down and its dark, as the time 'after' will be dark.

Answer 4

not really, it's after dark. when darkness comes its there, a little while later, its after dark. Does that make sense?

Answer 5

Some tribes used to refer to sunset as 'dark', and 'after dark' used to refer to things that happened anywhere between sunset and sunrise.

Answer 6

it means after it turns dark

Answer 7

it is a shortened term but actually means after it gets dark

Answer 8

As a point of reference. I will see you after it gets dark.

After sun set.

Hence after dark.

Answer 9

Because it's already dark.

Answer 10

after dark - arrives
after dark - appears
after dark - fall (as in nightfall)
maybe? :)