(a) quarter of (a given hour in time)

A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) before a particular hour. The phrase "(a) quarter of" can be used by itself or followed by a specific hour (e.g., "quarter of six," which means 5:45). Primarily heard in US. A: "What time does the movie start?" B: "Not until a quarter of eight, so we've got plenty of time!" I thought I'd be home already, but with this traffic, it'll be quarter of before I'm back. After lunch, the kids get to have recess until quarter of one.

(a) quarter till (a given hour in time)

A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) before the named hour in time (e.g., "quarter till six" would mean 5:45). A: "What time does the movie start?" B: "A quarter till eight, so we've got plenty of time!" I thought I'd be home already, but with this traffic, it'll be quarter till six before I'm back. After lunch, the kids get to have recess until quarter till one.

(a) quarter to (a given hour in time)

A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) before the named hour in time (e.g., "quarter to six" would mean 5:45). A: "What time does the movie start?" B: "Not until a quarter to eight, so we've got plenty of time!" I thought I'd be home already, but with this traffic, it'll be quarter to six before I'm back. After lunch, the kids get to have recess until quarter to one.

a bad quarter of an hour

old-fashioned A brief period of time that proves to be particularly difficult, unpleasant, or detrimental. Primarily heard in UK. It was a bad quarter of an hour outside of the courtroom, waiting for my name to be called. The team performed brilliantly—there wasn't a bad quarter of an hour in the entire match. A preeminent economic analyst predicts that the recent downturn in the markets will be nothing more than a bad quarter of an hour.

at close quarters

In or occupying a cramped or rather small space with other people. The term "quarters" is a reference to military housing. I'm glad to be done with my student days. Living at close quarters with so many people just to afford rent is something I don't want to do again. We sure are at close quarters this week with eight people staying in one small lake house. Boy, were we at close quarters on that plane—I'm so glad to be back on solid ground and able to stretch in every direction!

See also: close, quarter

be drawn and quartered

1. To be disemboweled and then beheaded and dismembered. This criminal is to be drawn and quartered, so once they take him from the gallows, they will pull out his entrails before removing his head and limbs by ax. Sire, I would encourage you to be polite to the king—his enemies have been drawn and quartered before. A: "They would behead me for this?" B: "Oh no, you'd be drawn and quartered—so you would be disemboweled first, then beheaded."

2. To kill a prisoner by tying each limb to a different horse and then sending each horse in a different direction. When he's drawn and quartered, the horses will pull his body apart in a most gruesome scene. Is there any way you can escape the jail? If you're found guilty of treason, you'll be drawn and quartered! Why are there horses here? Oh my God, I'm going to be drawn and quartered, aren't I?

3. By extension, to receive an exceptionally severe punishment. You'll be drawn and quartered when Mom and Dad find out that you took the car without telling them! I crashed the computer system for the whole company? Oh my gosh, I'm going to be drawn and quartered by the boss, aren't I? You'll be drawn and quartered for this, you snake in the grass! You'll never work in this industry again!

be given no quarter

To be offered no mercy, concession, or indulgence. We are at war with barbarians, soldier. You will be given no quarter if you are taken captive; likewise, you shall give them no quarter should you take them alive. This match determines if we're heading to the finals of the tournament, so make sure they are given no quarter! Our project must meet the industry's exacting standards—we will be given no quarter by our boss on this.

be hanged, drawn, and quartered

1. Literally, to be hanged, disemboweled, and then beheaded and dismembered. This criminal is to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Once they take him from the gallows, they shall pull out his entrails before removing his head and limbs by ax. Sire, I would encourage you to be polite to the king—his enemies have been hanged, drawn, and quartered before. A: "They would behead me for this?" B: "Oh no, you'd be hanged, drawn, and quartered—so you would be disemboweled first, then beheaded and dismembered."

2. By extension, to receive an exceptionally severe punishment. You'll be hanged, drawn, and quartered when Mom and Dad find out that you took the car without telling them! I crashed the computer system for the whole company? Oh my gosh, I'm going to be hanged, drawn, and quartered by the boss, aren't I? You'll be hanged, drawn, and quartered for this, you snake in the grass! You'll never work in this industry again!

be no quarter given

To have no mercy, concession, or indulgence offered. We are at war with barbarians, soldier. There will be no quarter given if you are taken captive, and you shall give them no quarter should you capture them. The match would determine which team made it to the finals of the tournament, so there was no quarter given by either side. Our project must meet the industry's exacting standards—there will be no quarter given on this.

draw and quarter

1. To hang and dismember someone. This phrase can also be preceded by the word "hang," as in "hang, draw, and quarter." This criminal is to be drawn and quartered, so once they pull him from the gallows, he'll be dismembered. Sire, I would encourage you to be polite to the king—his been known to draw and quarter his enemies before. A: "They would behead me for this?" B: "Oh no, they'd draw and quarter you first—so you would be dismembered, then beheaded."

2. To kill a prisoner by tying each limb to a horse and then sending each horse in a different direction. When he's drawn and quartered, the horses will pull his body apart in a gruesome scene. Is there any way you can escape the jail? If you're found guilty of treason, they'll draw and quarter you! Why are there horses here? Oh my God, they plan to draw and quarter me, don't they?

3. By extension, to punish someone severely. This usage is hyperbolic. Oh, she'll be drawn and quartered when Mom and Dad find out that she ran off to New York. I crashed the computer system for the whole company? Oh my gosh, they're going to draw and quarter me, aren't they? Mom will draw and quarter me if I show her report card with three failing grades on it!

give (someone) no quarter

To offer (someone) no mercy, concession, indulgence, or leeway. This match determines if we're heading to the finals of the tournament, so go out there and give them no quarter! Our boss gives no quarter when it comes to the standards our project must meet. We are at war with barbarians. If you capture an enemy soldier, give them no quarter.

grant (someone) no quarter

To offer (someone) no mercy, concession, indulgence, or leeway. This match determines if we're heading to the finals of the tournament, so go out there and grant them no quarter! Our boss grants no quarter when it comes to the standards of our projects. We are at war with barbarians. If you capture an enemy soldier, grant them no quarter.

See also: grant, no, quarter

granted no quarter

Offered no mercy, concession, or indulgence. We are at war with barbarians, soldier. You will be granted no quarter if you are taken captive; likewise, you shall grant them no quarter should you take them alive. This match determines if we're heading to the finals of the tournament, so make sure they are granted no quarter! We will be granted no quarter if we hand in a project that doesn't meet the boss' high standards.

See also: grant, no, quarter

hang, draw, and quarter

1. To hang, disembowel, and dismember someone. Usually used in passive constructions. The traitor is to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, so once they pull him from the gallows, he will be dismembered and his entrails will be burnt. Sire, I would encourage you to be polite to the king—his enemies have been hanged, drawn, and quartered before. A: "They would behead me for this?" B: "Oh no, you'd be hanged, drawn, and quartered—so you would be disemboweled first, then beheaded and dismembered."

2. By extension, to punish or dispose of someone as a result of some wrongdoing. I'll have you hanged, drawn, and quartered for this, you snake in the grass! You'll never work in this industry again! You'll be hanged, drawn, and quartered when Mom and Dad find out that you took the car without telling them! I crashed the computer system for the whole company? Oh my gosh, the boss is going to hang, draw, and quarter me, isn't he?

have (someone) drawn and quartered

1. To arrange for a prisoner to be disemboweled, beheaded, and dismembered, typically after hanging. The king is going to have the criminal drawn and quartered after they pull him from the gallows. First they'll pull out his entrails, and then they will remove his head and limbs with an ax. Sire, I would encourage you to be polite to the king—he's had enemies drawn and quartered before. A: "They would behead me for this?" B: "Oh no, they'd have you drawn and quartered—so you would be disemboweled first, then beheaded."

2. To arrange for a prisoner to die by having each limb tied to a different horse and then sending each horse in a different direction. When town officials have a prisoner drawn and quartered, the horses pull his body apart in a most gruesome display. Is there any way you can escape the jail? If you're found guilty of treason, the authorities will have you drawn and quartered! Why are there horses here? Oh my God, the sheriff plans to have me drawn and quartered, doesn't he?

3. To subject someone to an exceptionally severe punishment. Mom and Dad will have you drawn and quartered if they find out that you took the car without telling them! I crashed the computer system for the whole company? Oh my gosh, the boss will have me drawn and quartered! I'll have you drawn and quartered for this, you snake in the grass! You'll never work in this industry again!

have (someone) hanged, drawn, and quartered

1. To arrange for someone to be hanged, disemboweled, and then beheaded and dismembered. The king is going to have the criminal hanged, drawn, and quartered. Once they pull him from the gallows, they will remove his limbs by ax. Sire, I would encourage you to be polite to the king—he's had enemies hanged, drawn, and quartered before. A: "They would behead me for this?" B: "Oh no, they'd have you hanged, drawn, and quartered—so you would be disemboweled first, then beheaded."

2. To subject someone to an exceptionally severe punishment. Mom and Dad will have you hanged, drawn, and quartered when they find out that you took the car without telling them! I crashed the computer system for the whole company? Oh my gosh, the boss will have me hanged, drawn, and quartered! I'll have you hanged, drawn, and quartered for this, you snake in the grass! You'll never work in this industry again!

in close quarters

In or occupying a cramped or rather small space with other people. The term "quarters" is a reference to military housing. I'm glad to be done with my student days. Living in such close quarters with so many people just to afford rent is something I don't want to do again. We sure are in close quarters this week with eight people staying in one small lake house. Boy, were we in close quarters on that plane—I'm so glad to be back on solid ground and able to stretch in every direction!

See also: close, quarter

living quarters

The physical space where one lives. After having this huge bedroom to herself her whole life, Elsie is in for a rude awakening when she sees the living quarters in college dorms. I never truly got used to the cramped living quarters on the submarine.

quarter past (a given hour in time)

A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) after the named hour in time. A: "What time does the movie start?" B: "Not until a quarter past eight, so we've got plenty of time!" I thought I'd be home already, but with this traffic, it'll be quarter past before I'm back.

quarter-pounder

trademark A hamburger served at McDonald's fast food restaurants that weighs roughly four ounces (a quarter of a pound) before it is cooked. What are you gonna order at McDonald's? I'm getting a quarter-pounder and fries.

the fourth quarter is ours

We will or must be dominant in the fourth quarter (of some sporting event). Come on, don't give up—the fourth quarter is ours! It's common for fans to hold up four fingers at the end of the third quarter, which means, "the fourth quarter is ours!"

*drawn and quartered

Fig. to be dealt with very severely. (Now fig. except in historical accounts; refers to a former practice of torturing someone guilty of treason, usually a male, by disembowling and dividing the body into four parts. *Typically: be ~; have someone ~. Fixed order.) Todd was practically drawn and quartered for losing the Wilson contract. You were much too harsh with Jean. No matter what she did, she didn't need to be drawn and quartered for it!

grant someone no quarter

and give someone no quarter

Fig. not to allow someone any mercy or indulgence. (Originally meant to refuse to imprison and simply to kill one's prisoner.) The professor was harsh on lazy students. During class, he granted them no quarter.

See also: grant, no, quarter

at close quarters

Crowded, in a confined space, as in We could use a lot more room; this tiny office puts us at close quarters. This idiom makes figurative use of quarters in the sense of "military lodgings" but originated in 18th-century naval warfare. When the enemy boarded a ship, the crew would retreat behind wooden barriers erected for this purpose and would continue to fire through loopholes. They thus were very near the enemy, fighting in close quarters. [c. 1800]

See also: close, quarter

draw and quarter

Punish severely, as in Mom'll draw and quarter me if even one scratch appears on her new car. This expression alludes to two brutal forms of execution practiced in the past. In one the victim was drawn by a horse to a gallows, hanged, and then cut into four pieces and scattered; in the other the victim was hanged, disemboweled while still alive ( drawn), and then beheaded and dismembered. In both the victim was said to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Today the term is usually used hyperbolically.

at close quarters

If you do something or something happens at close quarters, you do it or it happens very near you. The only wolf which I have seen at really close quarters looked surprisingly gentle. The press was able to witness at close quarters the arguments going on.

See also: close, quarter

a bad quarter of an hour

a short but very unpleasant period of time; an unnerving experience.

A bad quarter of an hour is a translation of the French phrase un mauvais quart d'heure , which has also been current in English since the mid 19th century.

at ˌclose ˈquarters

from/within a very short distance: You have to examine the paint at close quarters in order to see the tiny scratches on it.

See also: close, quarter

draw and quarter

1. To execute (a prisoner) by tying each limb to a horse and driving the horses in different directions.

2. To disembowel and dismember after hanging.

3. Informal To punish severely: The teenager was drawn and quartered for wrecking the family's only car.

close quarters, at/in

Crowded, in a confined space. The term comes from eighteenth-century naval warfare. Wooden barriers were placed at various points on a ship, so that when an enemy boarded, the crew could retreat behind them and fire at the enemy through loopholes. The crew then were said to be fighting in close quarters, that is, in close contact with the enemy. The term later was transferred to any close contact or crowded situation.

grant no quarter

Show no mercy. This term comes from the ancient practice of sparing the life of an enemy who has come into one’s power, which was described as giving or granting quarter. Granting no quarter meant they were killed. The meaning of “quarter” has been disputed. The most likely explanation lies in “quarters” in the sense of “barracks,” a use of the word since the late sixteenth century. To grant no quarter thus meant to provide no housing for prisoners, who of course would not need it if they were dead. Wrote Nathan Bailey in 1725 (trans. Erasmus’ Colloquies), “It is grown into a proverb, I’ll give you no more quarter than a dog does a wolf.”

See also: grant, no, quarter

See also: