'half of' - time question

What is 'half of nine'?  8:30 or 9:30?

Thank you!

I would say that half OF nine is 8:30, but in my experience it's more common to hear half 9, meaning 9:30.  My husband and past co-workers did seem familar with of as a time reference.  If I said that we should be ready at quarter of 9, they had no idea what I meant.  They seemed more familar with quarter to 9.

Thank you so much, Cait for the detailed explanation with bolded terms, too!  That helps me out.

I think the lady must have said 'half nine' which will mean she will arrive here at 9:30am.  My DH took the message, so it's hard to know.

I agree that half of nine does seem to be 8:30am.

Oops, slight edit to the above.  I should have said that my husband and co-workers DIDN'T seem familiar rather than DID.  D'oh!

Cait, that use of of - quarter of nine - seems to be a US regional thing, too. Possibly restricted to us Marylanders (or Merlinders if you prefer!). I used to always use 'of' when referring to time but no one understood me so have killed the habit! I found a few folks from the  US south and west didn't use it either.

i got a '5 and 20 1'

today.

i took it to mean 1:25 but OMG!

I agree Caryn - I think the of thing is definitely regional. I still have to stop and work it out when anyone says that to me 'cause it definitely wasn't something I grew up hearing/saying!

I've picked up on the "half nine" thing - I rarely even say "nine thirty" anymore for some reason - guess it must be what hubs has always said to me....

Amy, good lord, I would have had NO clue what that person was telling me!!!!

I've used the term "of" in reference to time (grew up in northeastern NY) my whole life..... my fiance frequently corrects me when I say something like "it's 10 of" meaning 10 minutes until the hour.

I kicked the of habit right away when I moved here-it caused too much confusion.  The one that I still say that cracks up my co-workers is noon.  It's much more common here to say 12 o'clock.   

Amy, I've no idea what that person meant.  Are you sure they weren't messing you about?

i got a '5 and 20 1'

today.

i took it to mean 1:25 but OMG!

what language is that? Swahili? 

The one that I still say that cracks up my co-workers is noon.  It's much more common here to say 12 o'clock.   

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason with that one.  I'll say "noon" and people will say, "Do you mean twelve?" or I'll say "twelve" and people will say, "Do you mean noon?"!  

I still have to "confirm' again  when they say  half anything..  just to  be  SURE..  DH  gets  mad.. LOL!!      I don't trust myself that I understood right..

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason with that one.  I'll say "noon" and people will say, "Do you mean twelve?" or I'll say "twelve" and people will say, "Do you mean noon?"!   

Just to be different, I always say 'midday' - everyone seems to know what I mean.

i got a '5 and 20 1'

today.

i took it to mean 1:25 but OMG!

HUH!!!?

i got a '5 and 20 1'

today.

i took it to mean 1:25 but OMG!

They were talking mince!