“Quarter of” is a phrase that has always confused me. People seem to use it to mean a 15 minutes before an hour. “Quarter of 2:00” seems to mean “15 minutes before 2:00” or “1:45”. Is that right? Why?
It seems to me that if you have a “quarter of” something, you have a piece of it. “Quarter of 2:00” should be the same as “Quarter passed 2:00” or “2:15”. If you mean 15 minutes before 2:00, then you should say that or “15 minutes 'til 2:00”. Or even “1:45” (it’s the digital age for Pete’s sake ;)). Am I wrong? Why? What is the origins of “Quarter of” and why does it mean a quarter before?
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
If I was refering to it being 1:45 I would say it’s a quarter 'til 2:00 not a quarter of 2:00. And a quarter after 2:00 for 2:15. A quarter usually means 1/4 of.
“Quarter of” is probably an “old” person thing. My parents said it, and so do some of my co-workers. When they say it’s “quarter of 2:00”, they mean “1:45”. I get confused because I agree, “quarter of” should mean a piece of something. so when someone says “Meet me at a quarter of 2:00,” I think they mean “2:15” and show up a half hour late. Well, I haven’t actually done that, but I do get confused sometimes.
So why do people do that? Why does “quarter of” mean the same as “quarter to” instead of “quarter passed”?
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
“Quarter of” is what people say when they want to torture me. I say, “What time is it?” and they say, “Quarter of”. So it’s one quarter of one hour before or after some hour.
To me, “quarter of two” would be “one half”, which is why I carry a watch.
Everyone I’ve ever heard use “quarter of” was either Jewish, or American, or both. Not that it helps the dialectogy of this expression along much.
Dee da dee da dee dee do do / Dee ba ditty doh / Deedle dooby doo ba dee um bee ooby / Be doodle oodle doodle dee dohhttp://members.xoom.com/labradorian/
Hmm, can’t say I ever heard anyone say “a quarter of” to mean “before” the hour. But I can hazard a guess…it’s probably shorthand for “a quarter of an hour before 2:00” or whatever. It could also be shorthand for “a quarter of an hour past 2:00”, depending on who’s saying it, but that would create even more confusion! My family and friends generally agree it means “a quarter of an hour before” or “until” 2:00. I know where you’re coming from, though. My first posting had to do with people saying “last January” to mean January of this year, whereas I always think it means January of last year. Once people get their grubby paws on the English language, anything goes, it seems!
The only people I hear saying “quarter to” are the same ones that say nük-ya-ler instead of nuclear. These people also say irrigardless, and in formal memorandum write: “if you have any questions, please see myself”.
I don’t even say a quarter till two, it doesn’t roll as easily as one forty-five.
