In a British movie I saw last night, somebody said something about the time being "half eleven." I wasn't sure what that meant, because I do know that the exact equivalent in German, halb elf, means 10:30, half before eleven. To the Brits, however, it apparently means 11:30, "half eleven" being short for "half past eleven."
I've encountered other British vagaries regarding time. While in London once long ago, I was talking to a woman on the telephone about an event I wanted to attend, and when I asked her about the starting time, she said, "Try to be here by quarter to eight." Then she immediately added, "Oh, that would be seven forty-five in your language." I've always wondered who told her Americans don't know what "quarter to eight" means.
On a completely unrelated note, there is a horse running in today's Kentucky Derby called El Padrino (Godfather), and since it is Cinco de Mayo, he might be a good bet. Or not. The odds are 30 to 1, but it would be a nice payday if he did win.
The race starts this afternoon about half six.
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