on the clock

prepositional phrase

Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.

“Near-synonym: on the job”

Similar
on the job
Opposite
off the clock
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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. idiomaticWorking at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.

    Near-synonym: on the job

    3 more examples

    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.

    1983, Odie Hawkins, Scars and Memories, →ISBN, pages 97–98

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

    2006 May 16, Dave Caldwell, “Patrick Is First Only in Fans' Hearts”, in New York Times, retrieved 20 Apr 2009

    "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."

    2007 January 22, “VP drops in for quick visit to S.A.”, in San Antonio Express-News, retrieved 20 Apr 2009

    Synonyms: on the job

  2. idiomaticDuring one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment.

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

    1997 August 18, Tamala Edwards, James Carney, “Disaster on the Potomac: How not to run a city”, in Time
    1 more example

    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.

    2007 August 28, Kristin Shaw, “More work means more pay”, in The Independent, US, retrieved 20 Apr 2009
  3. idiomaticOf a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.

    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."

    1971, Barry Pain, “Mrs. Murphy”, in Humorous stories, →ISBN, page 90
    1 more example

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

    2005 April 22, “Cost Controls, Fine—But THAT'S Ridiculous”, in hereisthecity.com, UK, retrieved 20 Apr 2009
  4. hobbiesIn the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event.

    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.

    1989 April 28, Dave Anderson, “Sports of the Times: Jackson Hits 'Biggest Shot Of My Life'”, in New York Times, retrieved 20 Apr 2009
  5. hobbiesIn the official time expired in a game or other sporting event.

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

    2007 August 22, “Scotland 1-0 South Africa: Boyd saves blushes”, in ESPN, retrieved 20 Apr 2009
  6. chiefly sports draftsUnder scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time.
  7. Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge.

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

    2008 November 19, “A grand way to keep travelling”, in Irish Times, retrieved 20 Apr 2009
    1 more example

    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; [...].

    1962 October, “Talking of Trains: L.M.R. car-carrying success”, in Modern Railways, page 224
  8. Remunerated per unit of time.

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

  9. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, the, clock (displayed on the dial of a clock).

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

    1922, D. H. Lawrence, “The Horse Dealer's Daughter,”, in England, My England

Synonyms & antonyms

prepositional phraseWorking at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.

Similar
on the job
Opposite
off the clock
Also see
on the job

Translations

Polish w pracy
  • w pracyworking at one's job
Russian на смене, на работе
  • на смене (na smene)working at one's job
  • на работе (na rabote)working at one's job
Spanish de turno, trabajando
  • de turnoworking at one's job
  • trabajandoworking at one's job
Cite this entry
APA

on the clock. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20clock

MLA

“on the clock.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20clock. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the clock,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20clock.

Source: on the clock on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.