• pimento64@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    I did the same thing with my parents, mostly because they’d just say “quarter after” but would never say any number. If you made a word cloud of everything I’ve ever said in my life, “after what” would be gigantic in the center with every other word tiny around the edges.

    • MIDItheKID@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      10 months ago

      This just triggered a deep memory from within me. My brother used to say “half past” when I asked him the time, and when I would say “half past what?” the response was always “Half past the monkeys ass, a quarter to his balls”

      I still don’t know what it means or where it came from, but when I was 8 years old, it was hilarious.

    • PoopingCough@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      10 months ago

      Even worse than that imo is ‘quarter of’. I swear to god it’s been used to mean both before or after whatever hour they’re talking about

      • Willy@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        10 months ago

        mfrs think I know what hours its close to when I probably don’t know the day and am lucky to know what month it is.

          • bobagem@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            10 months ago

            Quarter after four is 4:15.

            Quarter of five is 4:45. Also quarter to five and quarter til five.

            I’m seeing other comments that suggest I might be wrong. Especially in regards to other languages.

          • Thistledown
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            10 months ago

            I would not have guessed that meaning of “of.” I think we should stick to “til” or “past” for clarity.