a hair past a freckle

"What time is it?" she said.¶ "A hair past a freckle," he said, pretending to look at his wrist.

1987, Joan Silber, In the City, New York: Penguin Books, published 1988, →ISBN, page 91

Eddie cocked his elbow and looked at his watch-less wrist. "A hair past a freckle, Eastern Elbow Time," he said. He gave Mrs. Marvelle his goofy grin.

1994, Terry & Wayne Baltz, The Invisible Kid and the Killer Cat, Fort Collins: Prairie Divide Productions, →ISBN, page 85

I bussed it to The New Fruiton Times building and arrived at a hair past a freckle. I don't own a watch either.

2006, Jeff House, Writing Is Dialogue, Norwood: Christopher-Gordon, →ISBN, page 178

"What time is it?" the guy asked, looking at his wrist and seeming disappointed to discover that he didn't have on a watch.¶ Eamon thought he'd help by looking at his own watch, but his was gone, too. "It's a hair past a freckle, apparently."

2011, Adrianne Byrd, King's Passion, New York: Kimani Press, →ISBN, pages 42–43

He looked at his left wrist, as if there were a watch there. Scott Shamwell never wears a watch, and yet he always does this when time of day is at issue. I always point out that he isn't wearing a watch, and he always says "So? I can see that it's half a hair past a freckle." This makes me laugh, so we do it every time.

2016, Craig Lancaster, Edward Unspooled, Billings: Missouri Breaks Press, →ISBN, page 222