twelve

Related to twelve: Twelve Tables, Twelve steps

(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.
See also: given, hour, of, quarter

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.
See also: curl

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!
See also: age, of, tender

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.
See also: given, hour, past, quarter

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.
See also: and, good, men, true, twelve

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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
See also: and, good, men, true, twelve
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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.
See also: and, good, men, true, twelve
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • 11
  • 12
  • eight
  • eleven
  • quarter
  • (a) quarter of (a given hour in time)
  • quarter past (a given hour in time)
  • about time
  • bout
  • (it's) (a)bout time
References in classic literature
"Were you in that lighter?" - pointing to the one with twelve rowers.
The Man in the Iron Mask
Both Number Twelve and Number Three had assured him that the beasts had not recaptured her, for they had seen the entire band flee madly through the jungle after hearing the report of the single shot which had so terrorized Bulan's antagonists.
The Monster Men
When they came to the stairs, the soldier ran on before the princesses, and laid himself down; and as the twelve sisters slowly came up very much tired, they heard him snoring in his bed; so they said, 'Now all is quite safe'; then they undressed themselves, put away their fine clothes, pulled off their shoes, and went to bed.
As soon as the time came when he was to declare the secret, he was taken before the king with the three branches and the golden cup; and the twelve princesses stood listening behind the door to hear what he would say.
Fairy Tales
The club of The Twelve True Fishermen would not have consented to dine anywhere but in such a place, for it insisted on a luxurious privacy; and would have been quite upset by the mere thought that any other club was even dining in the same building.
The first two courses of the dinner of The Twelve True Fishermen had proceeded with placid success.
As has been remarked, there were twenty-four seats at the terrace table, and only twelve members of the club.
The Innocence Of Father Brown
To each of the twelve lashings clung a brawny warrior with drawn short-sword.
The first man to follow him was Tanus and when the last reached the deck of the cruiser there remained upon the palace roof only the twelve warriors of Helium, who, with naked swords, had taken the posts of the Gatholians at the moorings.
The Chessmen of Mars
At half past twelve, when Catherine's anxious attention to the weather was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its amendment, the sky began voluntarily to clear.
They promised to come at twelve, only it rained; but now, as it is so fine, I dare say they will be here soon."
Northanger Abbey
They had seen the LIBERTY ASSUMED by a VERY FEW deputies from a VERY FEW States, convened at Annapolis, of recommending a great and critical object, wholly foreign to their commission, not only justified by the public opinion, but actually carried into effect by twelve out of the thirteen States.
Or if there be a man whose propensity to condemn is susceptible of no control, let me then ask what sentence he has in reserve for the twelve States who USURPED THE POWER of sending deputies to the convention, a body utterly unknown to their constitutions; for Congress, who recommended the appointment of this body, equally unknown to the Confederation; and for the State of New York, in particular, which first urged and then complied with this unauthorized interposition?
Federalist Papers Authored by James Madison
These mails are carried to Dublin by express trains always held in readiness to start; from Dublin they are sent on to Liverpool by the most rapid boats, and thus gain twelve hours on the Atlantic steamers.
Phileas Fogg counted on gaining twelve hours in the same way.
Around The World In Eighty Days