I don't remember where I read/heard this now
but the story goes an American asks an Englishman the time and he says "half ten" and the American goes "what, you mean it's five o'clock?"

They don't do quarters and halves. They say "ten thirty" or "ten forty-five" or whatever. They must all have digital watches. I don't think they even do "ten to".
( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Sun 10 Jun 2012, 14:28, archived)

Germans are similar, if you say 'half five' to them they think you mean half four, cos it's always 'half to' in their minds.
But also they have 'six three quarters' which would be a quarter to seven.
( Theoban This isn't what I ordered..., Sun 10 Jun 2012, 14:33, archived)

I keep meaning to use "a third past/to" instead of "twenty past/to"

( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Sun 10 Jun 2012, 14:35, archived)