mauvais quart d'heure

British  

/ movɛ kar dœr /

noun

1. a brief unpleasant experience

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Etymology

Origin of mauvais quart d'heure

literally: (a) bad quarter of an hour

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mauvais quart d'heure

If a modern warship meant business, the bellicose gunners of this little inkpot-looking fort would have what the French call a mauvais quart d'heure.

From Jethou or Crusoe Life in the Channel Isles by Suffling, Ernest R. (Ernest Richard)

And poor Lawrence spent a mauvais quart d'heure, inwardly fuming, I know, at the idea that he, the hero of Saspataras Hill, should be considered merely as 'the brother of Vaughan, the novelist.'

From Derrick Vaughan, Novelist by Lyall, Edna

While this single car flies out of Paris, a "mauvais quart d'heure" awaits Ernesto de Villa Rocca, at the hands of Natalie.

From The Little Lady of Lagunitas A Franco-Californian Romance by Savage, Richard

Those fifteen minutes had none the less proved a mauvais quart d'heure for Mr. Kelly.

From Parson Kelly by Lang, Andrew

Oh yes, it was a mauvais quart d'heure of the first order.

From Far to Seek A Romance of England and India by Diver, Maud