run down the clock

verb

To waste time at the end of a match such that it is terminated by running out of time, or during a match so a time penalty is made less severe.

Similar
run out the clockrun the clock down
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Meanings

verbrun down the clock (third-person singular simple present runs down the clock, present participle running down the clock, simple past ran down the clock, past participle run down the clock)

present singular third person runs down the clock · participle present running down the clock · past ran down the clock

  1. idiomatichobbiesTo waste time at the end of a match such that it is terminated by running out of time, or during a match so a time penalty is made less severe.

    Energetic Malouda was denied twice by Jussi Jaaskelainen late on before Ancelotti ran down the clock by introducing Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira in the closing seconds as Chelsea arrested their slide.

    2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC

    Synonyms: run out the clock, run the clock down

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo waste time at the end of a match such that it is terminated by running out of time, or during a match so a time penalty is made less severe.

Similar
run out the clockrun the clock down
Also see
run out the clock
Cite this entry
APA

run down the clock. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20down%20the%20clock

MLA

“run down the clock.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20down%20the%20clock. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “run down the clock,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20down%20the%20clock.

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