hour

at all hours (of the day and night)

at any time of the day or night. They keep calling me on the phone at all hours to ask questions I've already answered.

See also: all

at all hours (of the night)

very late at night. How do you expect me to sleep when you're playing loud music at all hours?

See also: all

at the eleventh hour

almost too late. Negotiators reached agreement at the eleventh hour, just in time to avoid a strike.

See also: eleventh

The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

something that you say which means a bad situation often seems worse just before it improves. There's still a chance she might recover. The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

See also: before, dark, dawn, just

eleventh-hour

at the eleventh hour - almost too late. The accused was saved from execution by an eleventh-hour confession from her father. (always before noun)

in someone's hour of need

at a time when someone needs help very much. I shall never forget that they were the people who helped me in my hour of need.

See also: need

the small hours

the early hours of the morning. I was up till the small hours of Wednesday morning finishing off that report. (often + of) She was born in the small hours of Saturday morning.

See also: small

till all hours (of the night)

until very late at night. They sit up till all hours of the night drinking beer and playing cards.

See also: all, till

the witching hour

twelve o'clock at night. It's time I was in bed - it's already past the witching hour.

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the bottom of the hour

30 minutes past the hour on a clock. We'll have more on these stories at the bottom of the hour.

the top of the hour

See also: bottom

on the hour

at the time an hour begins. Buses pull out every hour on the hour.

the top of the hour

the time when an hour begins on the clock. We'll update the weather again at the top of the hour.

the bottom of the hour

See also: top