on the clock

The phrase "on the clock" is often used to indicate working hours, time pressure, or active engagement in a task.

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Definition

B2Employment

(idiomatic)Actively working during paid hours.

Example

She can't take personal calls while she's on the clock.

B2Urgency

(idiomatic)Under time constraints or pressure to complete a task.

Example

We're on the clock, so let's finish this quickly.

B2Transportation

(idiomatic)When a taxi meter is running, indicating the fare is being calculated.

Example

The taxi driver started the meter as soon as we got in, so we were on the clock.

B2Automotive

(idiomatic)The current reading on a vehicle's speedometer or odometer.

Example

This car has only 30,000 miles on the clock.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on the clock":

clock on clock in off the clock clock onto ticking clock beat the clock wall clock on the job round the clock around the clock milk the clock bracket clock time check on time stop someone's clock time in keep time on watch clock out at work on schedule on the line against time put the clock back keep good time shot clock tell time clock up pulsar clock atomic clock wall time off time in time