on the clock
33
3.1
- idiom
- US
:
en horario laboral
- We're on the clock.
- keep an eye on the clock
- hours on the clock
- still on the clock
Like when you're quote UN quote on the clock in this job, you need to be outgoing.
- Like when you're quote UN quote on the clock in this job, you need to be outgoing.
Examples
-
You know I'm still on the clock, right?
-
And since you're basically always on the clock, you're never really paid for the time spent.
Blog text (2) -
One hour on the clock starting now.
-
You having to learn these things on the fly, on the clock with people like waiting for you.
-
Which often means people are actually on the clock more than ever.
Blog text (17) -
Bobby, I still have time on the clock, okay?
-
Yes, but I'm still on the clock, so you have to wait.
-
If you weren't on the clock, why take the risk?
-
Listen, I'm still on the clock, I don't have a lot of time, so if we could go pretty quick here.
-
The manager said that all decisions must be made while we are on the clock.
Antonyms
How Timed
- Informal
7
3.7
490
1.8
- US
33
3.1
78
2.0
- Informal
10
7.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'on' + 'clock' clearly evoke temporal measurement, so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely infer the expression relates to time or a time limit. However, the specific occupational sense 'within paid working hours' (or idiomatic sense of being under a deadline) is an extended, usage-specific meaning not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
On the clock comes from old workplaces where workers put a card into a big clock to show when they started and stopped work. Because the machine showed when they were being paid, on the clock now means 'working during paid hours' or being subject to a time limit.