Meanings
- UKobsoleteslangsimileVery quickly or vigorously.
I went over the fence like a shot, and ran like one o'clock for the trap, cussing and swearing as I went.
1899, H. G. Wells, Mr. Brisher's Treasure2 more examples
Brought up as a gentleman, he was, if ever a man was. Ed’cated at no end of expense. Went into the Marshal’s house once to try a new piano for him. Played it, I understand, like one o’clock—beautiful! As to languages—speaks anything.
1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC"Nice fix it would be for you, Mr. Joolby, if I was nicked for planting a snide 'un. They'd be here after George like one o'clock and then what would become of all the work you've paid him for doing?"
1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London
Cite this entry
like one o'clock. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/like%20one%20o'clock
“like one o'clock.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/like%20one%20o'clock. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “like one o'clock,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/like%20one%20o'clock.
Source: like one o'clock on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.