watcher

clock-watcher

One who often checks the time during an activity or event, as due to boredom or a desire to leave. He's a total clock-watcher, so I doubt that he likes his job. I'm usually a clock-watcher, but this new project actually kept me busy all day! We're all clock-watchers once it hits 4:00 on a Friday afternoon.

Who is watching the watchers?

cliché Who makes sure that those in the highest positions of power or authority remain accountable? Derived from a loose translation of the Latin phrase quis custodiet ipsos custodes from the ancient Roman poet and satirist Juvenal. The military junta seized power, claiming its aim was to protect the nation from the corrupt government. Now, of course, the question is, who is watching the watchers? The oversight committee is made up of business people who directly benefit from the sort of immoral practices the committee is meant to be preventing. So, who is watching the watchers?

See also: watch, who

Who watches the watchers?

cliché Who makes sure that those in the highest positions of power or authority remain accountable? Derived from a loose translation of the Latin phrase quis custodiet ipsos custodes from the ancient Roman poet and satirist Juvenal. The military junta seized power, claiming its aim was to protect the nation from the corrupt government. Now, of course, the question is, who watches the watchers? The oversight committee is made up of business people who directly benefit from the sort of immoral practices the committee is meant to be preventing. So, who watches the watchers?

See also: watch, who

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

clock-watcher

someone -- a worker or a student -- who is always looking at the clock, anticipating when something will be over. There are four clock-watchers in our office. People who don't like their jobs can turn into clockwatchers.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

bird watcher

n. a girl watcher; someone, usually a man, who enjoys watching women go by. You bird watchers should just mind your own business!

See also: bird, watcher

clock watcher

n. someone—a worker or a student—who is always looking at the clock. People who don’t like their jobs can turn into clock watchers.

See also: clock, watcher

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.