(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.
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