Meaning of a hair past a freckle | Babel Free

Definitions

Said when asked the time, humorously indicating that one does not know or does not care to check, or that one is not wearing a wristwatch and that nothing is to be seen on the wrist but hairs and freckles.

humorous

Examples

“"What time is it?" she said.¶ "A hair past a freckle," he said, pretending to look at his wrist.”

“Eddie cocked his elbow and looked at his watch-less wrist. "A hair past a freckle, Eastern Elbow Time," he said. He gave Mrs. Marvelle his goofy grin.”

“I bussed it to The New Fruiton Times building and arrived at a hair past a freckle. I don't own a watch either.”

“"What time it is?"^([sic]) Jim looked at his empty wrist and said, "Just a hair past a freckle."”

“"What time is it?" the guy asked, looking at his wrist and seeming disappointed to discover that he didn't have on a watch.¶ Eamon thought he'd help by looking at his own watch, but his was gone, too. "It's a hair past a freckle, apparently."”

“He looked at his left wrist, as if there were a watch there. Scott Shamwell never wears a watch, and yet he always does this when time of day is at issue. I always point out that he isn't wearing a watch, and he always says "So? I can see that it's half a hair past a freckle." This makes me laugh, so we do it every time.”

CEFR level