diff --git a/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec.go b/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec.go
index 4d64b44bd6..a629a8929f 100644
--- a/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec.go
+++ b/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec.go
@@ -30,7 +30,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/query/graphite/errors"
 )
 
-var reRelativeTime = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^\-([0-9]+)(s|min|h|d|w|mon|y)$`)
+var reRelativeTime = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^\-([0-9]+)(s|min|h|d|w|mon|y)$`)    // allows -3min, -4d, etc.
+var reTimeOffset = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(\-|\+)([0-9]+)(s|min|h|d|w|mon|y)$`) // -3min, +3min, -4d, +4d
+var reMonthAndDay = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(january|february|march|april|may|june|july|august|september|october|november|december)([0-9]{1,2}?)$`)
+var reDayOfWeek = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(sunday|monday|tuesday|wednesday|thursday|friday|saturday)$`)
+var reDayOfWeekOffset = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(\-|\+)(sunday|monday|tuesday|wednesday|thursday|friday|saturday)$`) // +monday, +thursday, etc
+var rePM = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(([0-1]?)([0-9])pm)([[:ascii:]])*$`)                                              // 8pm, 12pm, 8pm monday
+var reAM = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(([0-1]?)([0-9])am)([[:ascii:]])*$`)                                              // 2am, 11am, 7am yesterday
+var reTimeOfDayWithColon = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(([0-1]?)([0-9]):([0-5])([0-9])((am|pm)?))([[:ascii:]])*$`)       // 8:12pm, 11:20am, 2:00am
 
 var periods = map[string]time.Duration{
 	"s":   time.Second,
@@ -42,6 +49,31 @@ var periods = map[string]time.Duration{
 	"y":   time.Hour * 24 * 365,
 }
 
+var weekdays = map[string]int{
+	"sunday":    0,
+	"monday":    1,
+	"tuesday":   2,
+	"wednesday": 3,
+	"thursday":  4,
+	"friday":    5,
+	"saturday":  6,
+}
+
+var months = map[string]int{
+	"january":   1,
+	"february":  2,
+	"march":     3,
+	"april":     4,
+	"may":       5,
+	"june":      6,
+	"july":      7,
+	"august":    8,
+	"september": 9,
+	"october":   10,
+	"november":  11,
+	"december":  12,
+}
+
 // on Jan 2 15:04:05 -0700 MST 2006
 var formats = []string{
 	"15:04_060102",
@@ -50,6 +82,7 @@ var formats = []string{
 	"15:04_02.01.06",
 	"02.01.06",
 	"01/02/06",
+	"01/02/2006",
 	"060102",
 	"20060102",
 }
@@ -74,6 +107,17 @@ func FormatTime(t time.Time) string {
 	return t.Format(formats[0])
 }
 
+func getWeekDayOffset(weekday string, now time.Time) time.Duration {
+	expectedDay := weekdays[weekday]
+	today := int(now.Weekday())
+	dayOffset := today - expectedDay
+	if dayOffset < 0 {
+		dayOffset += 7
+	}
+
+	return time.Duration(dayOffset) * time.Hour * -24
+}
+
 // ParseTime translates a Graphite from/until string into a timestamp relative to the provide time
 func ParseTime(s string, now time.Time, absoluteOffset time.Duration) (time.Time, error) {
 	if len(s) == 0 {
@@ -108,9 +152,157 @@ func ParseTime(s string, now time.Time, absoluteOffset time.Duration) (time.Time
 		return time.Unix(n, 0).UTC(), nil
 	}
 
+	s = strings.Replace(strings.Replace(strings.ToLower(s), ",", "", -1), " ", "", -1)
+	ref, offset := s, ""
+	if strings.Contains(s, "+") {
+		stringSlice := strings.Split(s, "+")
+		if len(stringSlice) == 2 {
+			ref, offset = stringSlice[0], stringSlice[1]
+			offset = "+" + offset
+		} else {
+			return now, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("unknown time string %s", s))
+		}
+	} else if strings.Contains(s, "-") {
+		stringSlice := strings.Split(s, "-")
+		if len(stringSlice) == 2 {
+			ref, offset = stringSlice[0], stringSlice[1]
+			offset = "-" + offset
+		} else {
+			return now, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("unknown time string %s", s))
+		}
+	}
+	parsedReference, err := ParseTimeReference(ref, now)
+	if err == nil {
+		parsedOffset, err := ParseOffset(offset, now)
+		if err == nil {
+			return parsedReference.Add(parsedOffset), nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	return now, err
 }
 
+// ParseTimeReference takes a Graphite time reference ("8am", "today", "monday") and returns a time.Time
+func ParseTimeReference(ref string, now time.Time) (time.Time, error) {
+	var (
+		hour    = now.Hour()
+		minute  = now.Minute()
+		refDate time.Time
+	)
+
+	if ref == "" || ref == "now" {
+		return now, nil
+	}
+
+	// check if the time ref fits an absolute time format
+	for _, format := range formats {
+		t, err := time.Parse(format, ref)
+		if err == nil {
+			return t, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	rawRef := ref
+
+	// Time of Day Reference (8:12pm, 11:20am, 2:00am, etc.)
+	if reTimeOfDayWithColon.MatchString(rawRef) {
+		i := strings.Index(ref, ":")
+		newHour, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref[:i], 10, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, err
+		}
+		hour = int(newHour)
+		if len(ref) >= i+3 {
+			newMinute, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref[i+1:i+3], 10, 32)
+			if err != nil {
+				return time.Time{}, err
+			}
+			minute = int(newMinute)
+			if minute > 59 {
+				return time.Time{}, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("unknown time reference %s", rawRef))
+			}
+			ref = ref[i+3:]
+		}
+
+		if len(ref) >= 2 {
+			if ref[:2] == "am" {
+				ref = ref[2:]
+			} else if ref[:2] == "pm" {
+				hour = (hour + 12) % 24
+				ref = ref[2:]
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Xam or XXam
+	if reAM.MatchString(rawRef) {
+		i := strings.Index(ref, "am")
+		newHour, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref[:i], 10, 32)
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, err
+		}
+		hour = int(newHour)
+		minute = 0
+		ref = ref[i+2:]
+	}
+
+	// Xpm or XXpm
+	if rePM.MatchString(rawRef) {
+		i := strings.Index(ref, "pm")
+		newHour, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref[:i], 10, 32)
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, err
+		}
+		if newHour > 24 {
+			return time.Time{}, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("unknown time reference %s", rawRef))
+		}
+		hour = int((newHour + 12) % 24)
+		minute = 0
+		ref = ref[i+2:]
+	}
+
+	if strings.HasPrefix(ref, "noon") {
+		hour, minute = 12, 0
+		ref = ref[4:]
+	} else if strings.HasPrefix(ref, "midnight") {
+		hour, minute = 0, 0
+		ref = ref[8:]
+	} else if strings.HasPrefix(ref, "teatime") {
+		hour, minute = 16, 0
+		ref = ref[7:]
+	}
+
+	refDate = time.Date(now.Year(), now.Month(), now.Day(), hour, minute, 0, 0, now.Location())
+
+	// Day reference
+	if ref == "yesterday" {
+		refDate = refDate.Add(time.Hour * -24)
+	} else if ref == "tomorrow" {
+		refDate = refDate.Add(time.Hour * 24)
+	} else if ref == "today" {
+		return refDate, nil
+	} else if reMonthAndDay.MatchString(ref) { // monthDay (january10, may6, may06 etc.)
+		day := 0
+		monthString := ""
+		if val, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref[len(ref)-2:], 10, 64); err == nil {
+			day = int(val)
+			monthString = ref[:len(ref)-2]
+		} else if val, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref[len(ref)-1:], 10, 64); err == nil {
+			day = int(val)
+			monthString = ref[:len(ref)-1]
+		} else {
+			return refDate, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("day of month required after month name"))
+		}
+		refDate = time.Date(refDate.Year(), time.Month(months[monthString]), day, hour, minute, 0, 0, refDate.Location())
+	} else if reDayOfWeek.MatchString(ref) { // DayOfWeek (Monday, etc)
+		refDate = refDate.Add(getWeekDayOffset(ref, refDate))
+	} else if ref != "" {
+		return time.Time{}, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("unknown time reference %s", rawRef))
+	}
+
+	return refDate, nil
+}
+
 // ParseDuration parses a duration
 func ParseDuration(s string) (time.Duration, error) {
 	if m := reRelativeTime.FindStringSubmatch(s); len(m) != 0 {
@@ -125,3 +317,25 @@ func ParseDuration(s string) (time.Duration, error) {
 
 	return 0, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("invalid relative time %s", s))
 }
+
+// ParseOffset parses a time offset (like a duration, but can be 0 or positive)
+func ParseOffset(s string, now time.Time) (time.Duration, error) {
+	if s == "" {
+		return time.Duration(0), nil
+	}
+
+	if m := reTimeOffset.FindStringSubmatch(s); len(m) != 0 {
+		parity := 1
+		if m[1] == "-" {
+			parity = -1
+		}
+		timeInteger, err := strconv.ParseInt(m[2], 10, 32)
+		if err != nil {
+			return 0, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("invalid time offset %v", err))
+		}
+		period := periods[strings.ToLower(m[3])]
+		return period * time.Duration(timeInteger) * time.Duration(parity), nil
+	}
+
+	return 0, errors.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Errorf("invalid time offset %s", s))
+}
diff --git a/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec_test.go b/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec_test.go
index 3f6da56f7a..c394fb6d3b 100644
--- a/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec_test.go
+++ b/src/query/graphite/graphite/timespec_test.go
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ func TestParseTime(t *testing.T) {
 		{"20140307", time.Date(2014, time.March, 7, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
 		{"140307", time.Date(2014, time.March, 7, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
 		{"1432581620", time.Date(2015, time.May, 25, 19, 20, 20, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"now", time.Date(2013, time.April, 3, 4, 5, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"midnight", time.Date(2013, time.April, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"midnight+1h", time.Date(2013, time.April, 3, 1, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"april08+1d", time.Date(2013, time.April, 9, 4, 5, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"monday", time.Date(2013, time.April, 1, 4, 5, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"9am monday", time.Date(2013, time.April, 1, 9, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"9am monday +5min", time.Date(2013, time.April, 1, 9, 5, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
+		{"9:00am monday +5min", time.Date(2013, time.April, 1, 9, 5, 0, 0, time.UTC)},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
@@ -74,6 +82,27 @@ func TestParseDuration(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestParseOffset(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		timespec         string
+		expectedDuration time.Duration
+	}{
+		{"-4h", -4 * time.Hour},
+		{"-35MIN", -35 * time.Minute},
+		{"-10s", -10 * time.Second},
+		{"+4h", 4 * time.Hour},
+		{"+35MIN", 35 * time.Minute},
+		{"+10s", 10 * time.Second},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		s := test.timespec
+		parsed, err := ParseOffset(s, relativeTo)
+		assert.Nil(t, err, "error parsing %s", s)
+		assert.Equal(t, test.expectedDuration, parsed, "incorrect parsed value for %s", s)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestParseDurationErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []string{
 		"10s",
@@ -104,3 +133,77 @@ func TestAbsoluteOffset(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, test.expectedTime, parsed, "incorrect parsed value for %s", s)
 	}
 }
+
+// April 3 2013, 4:05
+func TestParseTimeReference(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		ref          string
+		expectedTime time.Time
+	}{
+		{"", relativeTo},
+		{"now", relativeTo},
+		{"8:50", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 4) + (time.Minute * 45))},
+		{"8:50am", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 4) + (time.Minute * 45))},
+		{"8:50pm", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 16) + (time.Minute * 45))},
+		{"8am", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 3) + (time.Minute * 55))},
+		{"10pm", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 17) + (time.Minute * 55))},
+		{"noon", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 7) + (time.Minute * 55))},
+		{"midnight", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * -4) + (time.Minute * -5))},
+		{"teatime", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 12) + (time.Minute * -5))},
+		{"yesterday", relativeTo.Add(time.Hour * 24 * -1)},
+		{"today", relativeTo},
+		{"tomorrow", relativeTo.Add(time.Hour * 24)},
+		{"04/24/13", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 24 * 21) + (time.Hour * -4) + (time.Minute * -5))},
+		{"04/24/2013", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 24 * 21) + (time.Hour * -4) + (time.Minute * -5))},
+		{"20130424", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 24 * 21) + (time.Hour * -4) + (time.Minute * -5))},
+		{"may6", relativeTo.Add(time.Hour * 24 * 33)},
+		{"may06", relativeTo.Add(time.Hour * 24 * 33)},
+		{"december17", relativeTo.Add(time.Hour * 24 * 258)},
+		{"monday", relativeTo.Add(time.Hour * 24 * -2)},
+		// strings have whitespace removed before being passed into ParseTimeReference
+		{"8ammonday", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 24 * -2) + (time.Hour * 3) + (time.Minute * 55))},
+		{"10pmyesterday", relativeTo.Add((time.Hour * 17) + (time.Minute * 55) + (time.Hour * 24 * -1))},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		ref := test.ref
+		parsed, err := ParseTimeReference(ref, relativeTo)
+		assert.Nil(t, err, "error parsing %s", ref)
+		assert.Equal(t, test.expectedTime, parsed, "incorrect parsed value for %s", ref)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseTimeReferenceErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []string{
+		"january800",
+		"january",
+		"random",
+		":",
+		"8:5",
+		"99pm",
+		"12:77pm",
+		"23:00pm",
+		"10:00pm6am",
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		parsed, err := ParseTimeReference(test, relativeTo)
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, time.Time{}, parsed)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseOffsetErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []string{
+		"something",
+		"1m",
+		"10",
+		"month",
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		parsed, err := ParseOffset(test, relativeTo)
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, time.Duration(0), parsed)
+	}
+}