mauvais quart d'heure: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “mauvais quart d'heure” mean?
A brief but acutely uncomfortable or embarrassing moment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A brief but acutely uncomfortable or embarrassing moment; a short period of unpleasantness or acute social awkwardness.
A temporary, often socially-driven crisis or difficulty that is intense but relatively short-lived. It implies a situation that must be endured with some stoicism before normalcy resumes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more recognised in British English due to historical and geographical proximity to French, but it is rare in both dialects. American usage is almost exclusively in literary or highly educated contexts.
Connotations
In both dialects, it suggests sophistication or a euphemistic, slightly ironic understatement for an awkward situation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Most common in written prose rather than speech.
Grammar
How to Use “mauvais quart d'heure” in a Sentence
to have/endure a mauvais quart d'heureto go through one's mauvais quart d'heurethe mauvais quart d'heure passedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mauvais quart d'heure” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chairman had to mauvais quart d'heure his way through the shareholders' pointed questions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe a tense, brief segment of a difficult negotiation or a challenging Q&A session after a presentation.
Academic
Rare. Could be used in literary analysis or social commentary to describe a character's pivotal moment of social shame.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used humorously or self-consciously to describe an embarrassing social gaffe.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mauvais quart d'heure”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mauvais quart d'heure”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mauvais quart d'heure”
- Mispronouncing 'mauvais' (it's /məʊˈveɪ/ or /moʊˈveɪ/, not /mɔːvəs/).
- Using it for a long period of difficulty.
- Incorrectly writing as 'mauvaise quart d'heure' (mauvais is masculine).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, somewhat literary borrowing from French. It is understood by educated speakers but rarely used in everyday conversation.
No, it is typically used for socially uncomfortable or embarrassing situations, not for grave danger or prolonged suffering. It implies a contained, endurable episode.
Yes, as it is a foreign phrase not fully naturalised in English, it is standard to write it in italics: *mauvais quart d'heure*.
Yes, the plural is 'mauvais quarts d'heure', though it is exceedingly rare to need it.
A brief but acutely uncomfortable or embarrassing moment.
Mauvais quart d'heure is usually formal, literary in register.
Mauvais quart d'heure: in British English it is pronounced /ˌməʊveɪ ˌkɑː dɜːr/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmoʊˈveɪ ˌkɑr ˈdʊr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “storm in a teacup”
- “a bump in the road”
- “a rough patch (though longer)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a fancy French clock striking a bad (mauvais) quarter-hour (quart d'heure), and during that precise 15 minutes, everything feels awkward and embarrassing.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER FOR EXPERIENCE / UNCOMFORTABLE SOCIAL SITUATIONS ARE BAD WEATHER (a passing storm).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a 'mauvais quart d'heure'?