Meaning of on the clock | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece).
   literally
2. Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.
   idiomatic
3. During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment.
   idiomatic
4. Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.
   idiomatic
5. In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event.
6. In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event.
7. Under scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time.
8. Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge.
9. Remunerated per unit of time.

Equivalents

Examples

“It was six o'clock on the clock. His own watch had stopped.”

“Near-synonym: on the job”

“I discovered after my arrival that I wouldn't be able to start working for six weeks. . . . The Beverley Hills Post Office finally worked my status out with the Chicago Post Office. I was back on the clock.”

“Danica Patrick is still on the clock. Her crew members . . . are at the end of their workday. Hers drags on.”

“"I guess it ain't all bad," Kerr said, lighting another cigarette. "I'm on the clock, so I'm getting paid while I wait."”

“Money earmarked for services and repairs often found its way to payroll, to put yet more unskilled workers on the clock.”

“The board authorized the Building Department to schedule Saturday inspections for water line installations as a service to residents and businesses. It requires inspections to be done "on the clock" and in a town vehicle.”

“If a fare paid him no more than what was on the clock, he'd shout out: "If you can't afford cabs you should take the 'bus."”

“Significant monies are wasted each week as bankers leave taxis outside, waiting on the clock, while they finish their lunches.”

“With only three seconds on the clock and the Knicks about to win, 102-96, in their playoff opener against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden last night, Rick Pitino enjoyed the moment.”

“There were 26 minutes on the clock before Scotland had their first real opportunity.”

“The obvious advantages of this method of new motor vehicle delivery over long distances,, which the L.M.R. says dealers and ultimate customers are beginning to appreciate, are all-weather reliability, arrival in mint condition and with only a very small mileage "on the clock", and the assurance that the car has not been mishandled during its running-in period; [...].”

“And with 112,000 miles on the clock this isn't scary mileage for this type of car.”

“Alas, the delivery boy is on the clock; he could and would work much faster on commission!”

CEFR level