битый час {adv. phr.}
`bityij chas
Beaten (whole) an hour {literary}
~for a solid hour, for a good hour.
Said about comparably long time spent (often in vain) or abortive effort (to explain or achieve sth.), for ex., when complaining.
{informal}, as a rule {invariable}.
Битый час дозваниваться в службу поддержки. — To try getting through for one (solid) hour to reach the support.
See also:
whole good hour
one solid hour
wasted time, labour