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Glite Dictionary
to put the clock forward

to put the clock forward

3.9
To set a clock one hour ahead for daylight saving time
  • phrasal verb
  • UK
translation icon : adelantar el reloj
  • Don't forget to put the clock forward by one hour when daylight saving time begins.

Examples

  • If you forget to put the clock forward, you might arrive late for your appointment.

  • "What happens," asked Tony, "if you don't put the clock forward?"

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Every spring, we need to put the clock forward to enjoy longer evenings.

Synonyms

to set ahead
vsto put the clock forward
3.2

To move a clock or watch forward to show a later time

is used specifically when starting daylight saving time

Surface Forms

put the clock forward infinitive
put the clock forward past
put the clock forward past participle
putting the clock forward present participle
puts the clock forward third person singular

Morphology

put + the + clock + forward

The meaning 'adjust a clock to a later time' is directly derivable from combining 'put' (move/set), 'clock' (timepiece) and 'forward' (toward a later time). This is a literal, compositional instruction that follows common English verb + directional particle patterns and is cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Put the clock forward comes from the simple action of moving the hands of a clock forward by one hour every spring to start 'daylight saving time'. That's why the phrase now means 'to adjust a clock to a later time'.