"on the clock" meaning in English

See on the clock in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Prepositional phrase

Audio: En-au-on the clock.ogg [Australia]
Head templates: {{head|en|prepositional phrase|head=}} on the clock, {{en-PP}} on the clock
  1. (literally) Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece). Tags: literally
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase--MXrRnUx
  2. (idiomatic) Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-C-hxvb7Y
  3. (idiomatic) During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-~3gGQXZN
  4. (idiomatic) Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-Z5XLoMWf
  5. (sports) In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event. Categories (topical): Sports
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-B9M8eTY2 Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
  6. (sports) In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event. Categories (topical): Sports
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-7hX142AV Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
  7. (chiefly sports drafts) Under scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time. Categories (topical): Sports
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-szva~bUe
  8. (of a motor vehicle) Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge. Tags: of a motor vehicle
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase--Vxb2OT1
  9. Remunerated per unit of time.
    Sense id: en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-2ScBmsw-
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: clock in, clock off, clock on, clock out

Download JSON data for on the clock meaning in English (8.6kB)

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      "word": "off the clock"
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  "pos": "prep_phrase",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "41 0 0 22 0 0 2 34 0",
      "word": "clock in"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "41 0 0 22 0 0 2 34 0",
      "word": "clock off"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "41 0 0 22 0 0 2 34 0",
      "word": "clock on"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "41 0 0 22 0 0 2 34 0",
      "word": "clock out"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Coordinate term: o'clock"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1922, D. H. Lawrence, “The Horse Dealer's Daughter,”, in England, My England",
          "text": "It was six o'clock on the clock. His own watch had stopped.",
          "type": "quotation"
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece)."
      ],
      "id": "en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase--MXrRnUx",
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          "Displayed",
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          "dial",
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          "timepiece",
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(literally) Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "literally"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Near-synonym: on the job"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1983, Odie Hawkins, Scars and Memories, pages 97–98",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2006 May 16, Dave Caldwell, “Patrick Is First Only in Fans' Hearts”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "Danica Patrick is still on the clock. Her crew members . . . are at the end of their workday. Hers drags on.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2007 January 22, “VP drops in for quick visit to S.A.”, in San Antonio Express-News, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "\"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.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment."
      ],
      "tags": [
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      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1997 August 18, Tamala Edwards, James Carney, “Disaster on the Potomac: How not to run a city”, in Time",
          "text": "Money earmarked for services and repairs often found its way to payroll, to put yet more unskilled workers on the clock.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2007 August 28, Kristin Shaw, “More work means more pay”, in The Independent, US, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment."
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      "id": "en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase-~3gGQXZN",
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment."
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      "tags": [
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    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1971, Barry Pain, “Mrs. Murphy”, in Humorous stories, page 90",
          "text": "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.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2005 April 22, “Cost Controls, Fine—But THAT'S Ridiculous”, in hereisthecity.com, UK, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "Significant monies are wasted each week as bankers leave taxis outside, waiting on the clock, while they finish their lunches.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab."
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        "(idiomatic) Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab."
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      "categories": [
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          "name": "Sports",
          "orig": "en:Sports",
          "parents": [
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            "Fundamental"
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          "source": "w"
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1989 April 28, Dave Anderson, “Sports of the Times: Jackson Hits 'Biggest Shot Of My Life'”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
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        "In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event."
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(sports) In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event."
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        {
          "ref": "2007 August 22, “Scotland 1-0 South Africa: Boyd saves blushes”, in ESPN, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "There were 26 minutes on the clock before Scotland had their first real opportunity.",
          "type": "quotation"
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        "(sports) In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event."
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        "(chiefly sports drafts) Under scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time."
      ]
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      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1962 October, “Talking of Trains: L.M.R. car-carrying success”, in Modern Railways, page 224",
          "text": "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; [...].",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2008 November 19, “A grand way to keep travelling”, in Irish Times, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "And with 112,000 miles on the clock this isn't scary mileage for this type of car.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
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        "Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge."
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      "id": "en-on_the_clock-en-prep_phrase--Vxb2OT1",
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        "(of a motor vehicle) Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge."
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      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Alas, the delivery boy is on the clock; he could and would work much faster on commission!",
          "type": "example"
        }
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        "Remunerated per unit of time."
      ],
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  "word": "on the clock"
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{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "off the clock"
    }
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  "categories": [
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    "English prepositional phrases",
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  "related": [
    {
      "word": "clock in"
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      "word": "clock off"
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      "word": "clock on"
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      "word": "clock out"
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        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
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        {
          "text": "Coordinate term: o'clock"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1922, D. H. Lawrence, “The Horse Dealer's Daughter,”, in England, My England",
          "text": "It was six o'clock on the clock. His own watch had stopped.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
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        "Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece)."
      ],
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        "(literally) Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece)."
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        "English idioms",
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        {
          "text": "Near-synonym: on the job"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1983, Odie Hawkins, Scars and Memories, pages 97–98",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2006 May 16, Dave Caldwell, “Patrick Is First Only in Fans' Hearts”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "Danica Patrick is still on the clock. Her crew members . . . are at the end of their workday. Hers drags on.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2007 January 22, “VP drops in for quick visit to S.A.”, in San Antonio Express-News, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "\"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.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment."
      ],
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment."
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          "ref": "1997 August 18, Tamala Edwards, James Carney, “Disaster on the Potomac: How not to run a city”, in Time",
          "text": "Money earmarked for services and repairs often found its way to payroll, to put yet more unskilled workers on the clock.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2007 August 28, Kristin Shaw, “More work means more pay”, in The Independent, US, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment."
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        "(idiomatic) During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment."
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          "ref": "1971, Barry Pain, “Mrs. Murphy”, in Humorous stories, page 90",
          "text": "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.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2005 April 22, “Cost Controls, Fine—But THAT'S Ridiculous”, in hereisthecity.com, UK, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "Significant monies are wasted each week as bankers leave taxis outside, waiting on the clock, while they finish their lunches.",
          "type": "quotation"
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        "Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab."
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        "(idiomatic) Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab."
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        {
          "ref": "1989 April 28, Dave Anderson, “Sports of the Times: Jackson Hits 'Biggest Shot Of My Life'”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event."
      ],
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      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(sports) In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event."
      ],
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        {
          "ref": "2007 August 22, “Scotland 1-0 South Africa: Boyd saves blushes”, in ESPN, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "There were 26 minutes on the clock before Scotland had their first real opportunity.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event."
      ],
      "links": [
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(sports) In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "sports"
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    },
    {
      "categories": [
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      ],
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        "Under scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time."
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        "(chiefly sports drafts) Under scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time."
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    {
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        {
          "ref": "1962 October, “Talking of Trains: L.M.R. car-carrying success”, in Modern Railways, page 224",
          "text": "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; [...].",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2008 November 19, “A grand way to keep travelling”, in Irish Times, retrieved 2009-04-20",
          "text": "And with 112,000 miles on the clock this isn't scary mileage for this type of car.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge."
      ],
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        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(of a motor vehicle) Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "of a motor vehicle"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Alas, the delivery boy is on the clock; he could and would work much faster on commission!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Remunerated per unit of time."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Remunerated",
          "remunerated"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-on the clock.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/5c/En-au-on_the_clock.ogg/En-au-on_the_clock.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/En-au-on_the_clock.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "on the clock"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-13 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-01 using wiktextract (ee658f9 and be4df6b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.