Showerthoughts

29632 readers

760 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

Rules

All posts must be showerthoughts
The entire showerthought must be in the title
Avoid politics (NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out)
Posts must be original/unique
Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

431

I hear phrases like "half-past", "quarter til", and "quarter after" way less often since digital clocks have became more commonplace. (midwest.social)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

169 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 39 points 8 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Anyone using "quarter of" to mean X:15 is just incorrect. That's "quarter after".

[–] [email protected] -2 points 8 months ago (3 children)

When you say quarter of, you are supposed to say the next hour. Quarter after 4 is a quarter of 5.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

That's... I guess that makes sense but that's really weird and ambiguous.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

EVERY TIME