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

A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) before the named hour in time (e.g., "quarter of six" would mean 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.

12-ounce curls

The act of drinking beer (which is commonly sold in 12-ounce cans), jokingly likened to a weightlifting exercise. The only exercise John seems to do these days is 12-ounce curls.

20 to (some hour)

Twenty minutes before the next hour. Come on, kids, hurry up! It's already 20 to 8, and we have to be there by 8:10! A: "Is it 5:40? Or 20 to 6?" B: "It's both. You do know that they refer to the same time, right?"

at the tender age of

At the young age of. This phrase is used to emphasize how young one was when one did something in particular. The age is stated after "of." I'm not surprised to hear that he was doing science experiments at the tender age of seven—he's a child genius!

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.

twelve good men and true

A jury of upright, honest, trustworthy people. Juries were once composed solely of men, and so this phrase has begun falling into disuse. I know the evidence I strong, but we have to convince twelve good men and true beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is guilty.

twelve good people and true

A jury of upright, honest, trustworthy people. An uncommon variant of the original phrase "twelve good men and true," meant to reflect the ability of women to serve on juries in modern times. I know the evidence I strong, but we have to convince twelve good people and true beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is guilty.

See also: and, good, people, true, twelve

twelve good men and true

Fig. a jury composed of trustworthy men. He was convicted by a jury of twelve good men and true. Not a wino in the lot.

twelve good men and true

a jury. dated

A jury in a court of law was traditionally composed of twelve men. Nowadays, of course, women also sit on juries, and so this phrase is falling out of use.