Bedeutung
Experiencing a moment of great stress.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'brutto quarto d'ora' often revolves around the fear of 'brutta figura' (making a bad impression). In a culture that values social grace, being put on the spot is particularly agonizing. Parents frequently use this phrase as a deterrent. It's a way to signal that a serious conversation/scolding is coming without resorting to threats of physical punishment. Despite modern shifts, Italian workplaces can still be quite hierarchical. The 'brutto quarto d'ora' is a common way to describe the experience of being called into a superior's office. The phrase reflects a pre-digital era where time was measured in quarters by church bells. A 'quarter' was a significant, audible block of time.
Use the Causative
To sound really native, use 'mi ha fatto passare'. It's much more common than the simple 'ho passato' when talking about social interactions.
Don't use for long periods
If you say you passed a 'brutto quarto d'ora' for a whole month, Italians will be confused. Use 'periodo' for long durations.
Bedeutung
Experiencing a moment of great stress.
Use the Causative
To sound really native, use 'mi ha fatto passare'. It's much more common than the simple 'ho passato' when talking about social interactions.
Don't use for long periods
If you say you passed a 'brutto quarto d'ora' for a whole month, Italians will be confused. Use 'periodo' for long durations.
Drama is okay
Italians use this phrase with a bit of drama. Don't be afraid to use expressive hand gestures (like the 'che vuoi' pinch) when saying it!
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'passare'.
Ieri, durante l'interrogazione, io ________ un brutto quarto d'ora.
The sentence refers to a completed action in the past ('ieri'), so the 'passato prossimo' with 'avere' is required.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'passare un brutto quarto d'ora'?
Scegli la situazione corretta:
The idiom describes a short, intense period of stress or trouble, such as being scolded.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: 'Com'è andata la multa?' B: 'Male, il vigile mi ________.'
When someone else causes the stress, we use the causative 'fare' + 'passare'.
Identify the grammatically correct sentence.
Quale frase è corretta?
The idiom is fixed: 'passare' (with 'avere') + 'un brutto quarto d'ora'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
When to use 'Brutto Quarto d'Ora'
Authority
- • Police check
- • Boss scolding
- • Principal's office
Technical
- • Computer crash
- • Lost password
- • Phone died
Social
- • Wrong text sent
- • Public speaking
- • Awkward silence
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIeri, durante l'interrogazione, io ________ un brutto quarto d'ora.
The sentence refers to a completed action in the past ('ieri'), so the 'passato prossimo' with 'avere' is required.
Scegli la situazione corretta:
The idiom describes a short, intense period of stress or trouble, such as being scolded.
A: 'Com'è andata la multa?' B: 'Male, il vigile mi ________.'
When someone else causes the stress, we use the causative 'fare' + 'passare'.
Quale frase è corretta?
The idiom is fixed: 'passare' (with 'avere') + 'un brutto quarto d'ora'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's purely figurative. It could be 2 minutes of panic or an hour-long interrogation. The '15 minutes' just emphasizes that it's a specific, limited event.
No, 'brutto' (bad/ugly) is a core part of the idiom. For a good time, you'd say 'un bel momento' or 'un quarto d'ora di gloria'.
It's a bit casual. In a formal email to a client, you might say 'abbiamo riscontrato delle difficoltà'. To a colleague, it's perfectly fine.
'Brutto momento' is more generic. 'Brutto quarto d'ora' is more idiomatic and usually implies a higher intensity of stress or a specific confrontation.
Only if the movie made you feel personally stressed or anxious, not just because the movie was bad quality. If the movie was bad, say 'un film pessimo'.
Abbiamo passato un brutto quarto d'ora.
Yes, 'passare i sorci verdi' is more colorful/slangy, or 'passare un inferno'.
It's a fixed historical idiom. 'Mezz'ora' (half hour) isn't used in this specific idiomatic way.
Yes, if you had a sudden, sharp pain or a scary medical moment, it fits perfectly.
Yes, it is a standard Italian idiom recognized from North to South.
Verwandte Redewendungen
vedere i sorci verdi
similarTo go through a very difficult time or be severely punished.
sudare freddo
similarTo break out in a cold sweat.
essere in un vicolo cieco
contrastTo be in a dead end.
passarsela male
similarTo be having a hard time (generally).
