three o'clock sharp - Glite Dictionary

Examples

You meet me back here at three o'clock sharp.

Take the Lead (2006)
You be at this personnel office, Friday, three o'clock sharp.

Fiction book (1993)
I'm telling you to be there Friday, three o'clock sharp, or the sheriff will be here for dinner.

Fiction book (1993)
Mr. Wilkie had stepped off the Birmingham train and onto the platform at three o'clock sharp the day before.

Fiction book (1998)
We shall all reassemble outside the town hall at three o'clock sharp, and then process through the village and the countryside, down to the beach below the stones, by the route which has become sacred to our rite.

The Wicker Man (1973)
You meet me back here at three o'clock sharp.
See you tomorrow at three o'clock sharp.
Please arrive at the meeting at three o'clock sharp.

Synonyms

on the dot

vsthree o'clock sharp

11 2.8

At exactly the planned time

is tied to the named hour rather than general timing

on the button

vsthree o'clock sharp

5.8

Exactly correct in time or amount

is about a single exact hour rather than general precision

Surface Forms

three o'clock sharp positive

Morphology

three + o'clock + sharp

The phrase combines the transparent components 'three' + 'o'clock' (a specific hour) with 'sharp' as a modifier meaning 'exactly' or 'precisely', so the overall meaning is directly derivable from the parts. This time-expression + precision modifier pattern is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Three o'clock sharp may come from the image of a clock hand landing as a very sharp point on the three. 'Sharp' shows a moment that is exactly on the hour, so the phrase means 'at exactly three o'clock'.