off-the-clock
- adverb
- Informal
- I'm actually off the clock.
- work off-the-clock
Examples
-
Once I'm off the clock in my home, leave me alone.
-
All off the clock without being paid?
-
So am I not working off the clock those 3 or so hours after a holiday?
Blog text (1) -
I have to say that, in my opinion, the stuff he does off the clock seems a lot more interesting.
Blog text (29) -
I was off the clock, not getting paid.
Blog text (6) -
Their theory, similar to a rising number of such suits, is that they were required to work off the clock.
Blog text (12) -
Working "off the clock" is illegal and will get you in trouble very quickly if you have an educated workforce.
Blog text (2) -
Let's say you go into work an hour early, but you fear that you might get in trouble for going in so early, so you work for an hour off the clock and then sign in.
Blog text (1) -
Walmart is on an hourly pay system, although it has abused workers by making them work off the clock (and later has been sued).
Blog text (22) -
My job encourages us to avoid working off-the-clock to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Synonyms
Does not get money for work done
How Timed
- Informal
- US
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
off-the-clock = the + clock (transparent) = off + the + clock
The meaning is directly compositional from 'off' + 'the' + 'clock' (i.e., not during clocked/paid hours) and is clear to learners who know the components and the phrase 'on the clock'. [Postprocessing: moved 'off' from base_words to prefix]
Etymology
Off-the-clock comes from off meaning 'not' and clock meaning 'official work time'. So, to work off-the-clock is to do tasks 'not during paid hours' and 'without extra pay'.