2006-12-18 11:58:53 · 11 answers · asked by Schlermie 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Haha... my grandma and I just got into a debate over this the other day. :)
She said "We're having lunch at a quarter of noon." And I had no idea if she meant 11:45 or 12:15.
For the record, she meant 11:45.
I, however, felt that 12:15 made more sense, because a "quarter of noon" would have passed at 12:15.
I understand that on an analog clock, the face is divisible into quarters (12, 3, 6 and 9), but to me this still makes no sense. Saying "a quarter 'TILL three" is logical, because there is a quarter of an hour left until 3:00. And likewise, saying "a quarter AFTER three" logically means 3:15, because a quarter of the 3:00 hour has passed.
But, alas, the "quarter of three" mystery still remains. There's a quarter of the hour left... but it's not the quarter of the 3:00 hour left, it's the quarter of the 2:00 hour.
I still find it perplexing. But, my grandma says it's 2:45, and I believe her... despite having been made fun of for asking for at least half an hour.
2006-12-18 12:54:46 · answer #1 · answered by xxandra 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"A quarter of three" means 2:45. I comes from a quarter-hour (15 minutes) before 3:00 o'clock. Also called a quarter 'til 3, or a quarter to 3.
3:15 is sometimes expressed as a quarter past 3, or less often, as a quarter after 3.
2006-12-18 12:48:00 · answer #2 · answered by Carlos R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A quarter to 3 means 2:45 if they meant the other way, then they would have said, A quarter after 3. I know, I don't understand either why they don't just say 2 forty five or three fifteen. It's annoying.
2006-12-18 12:02:38 · answer #3 · answered by I love my kids! 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
technically a quarter of 3 is 0.75. It means 12:45.
A quarter past 3 means 3:15.
A quarter before 3 means 2:45.
2006-12-18 12:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by somerandominternetperson 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2:45; 3:15 would be a quarter past or after three.
2006-12-18 12:00:40 · answer #5 · answered by Joy M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2:45, it's taking a quarter of 3:00
2006-12-18 12:01:24 · answer #6 · answered by Rachel K 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
re: derivation
An hour is divided into quarters. 4 quarters = one hour= 60 minutes.
half an hour would be 2 quarters or 30 minutes
a quarter of an hour would be 15 minutes.
likewise a half a minute is 30 seconds.
I think it came from the fact that the face of a clock used to be - before digital displays - primarily the familar circular shape which reminds one of a pie. you can cut a pie into quarters or halves easily.
god bless
2006-12-18 12:42:57 · answer #7 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
60 minutes in one hour 30 minutes would = 1/2 of an hour. There are 4 quarters in your hour in incriments of 15 minutes. so quarter after 3 would be 3 15 quarter of 3 would be 15 min before 3
2006-12-18 12:02:12 · answer #8 · answered by Tammy G 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Means quarter of three. 3:15 would be quarter after three.
2006-12-18 12:04:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think you can relax so deeply and accept things to such an extent that you feel love in everything. you will still react to oppose things which seem out of harmony with the circumstances, but there is what i guess is 'unconditional love' for life itself which goes beyond all circumstances and forms. i think letting go of the ideas which make us tense and consciously relaxing into every moment can take you to a love that is unconquerable. while i think this will give you great 'power' in the world, this love conquers the fear inside, rather than obstacles outside, which may still persist.
2016-03-28 23:35:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋