clock (redirected from clocked)

around-the-clock

around/round the clock - all day and all night. The police are mounting an around-the-clock guard on the embassy. (always before noun)

around/round the clock

all day and all night. Doctors and nurses worked around the clock to help the people injured in the train crash. This station broadcasts news round the clock.

See also: around, round

clock-watching

watch the clock - to keep looking to see what the time is because you are eager to stop what you are doing. A lot of clock-watching goes on during the general lectures, especially in the second hour.

put/turn the clock back

to make things the same as they were at an earlier time. The court's decision has put the clock back a hundred years. Let's turn back the clock to 1963 and listen to the Beatles singing 'Love, love me do'. (often + to)

See also: back, turn

race against the clock

in sport, if people race against the clock, they try to race faster than a particular time instead of racing against other people. In time trials, cyclists race against the clock.

See also: against, race

a race against time/the clock

an attempt to do something very quickly because there is only a short time in which it can be done. It's a race against time to get the building finished before the rainy season sets in.

See also: against, race, time

race against time/the clock

a race against time/the clock - an attempt to do something very quickly because there is only a short time in which it can be done. Rescuers were racing against time last night to reach the four divers, trapped 200 feet down on the seabed.

See also: against, race, time

run out the clock (American & Australian, American)

to keep the ball away from the team competing against you at the end of a game so that they cannot score any points. The Pistons thought they were running out the clock but lost the ball and the game in the last nine seconds.

See also: run

watch the clock

to keep looking to see what the time is because you are eager to stop what you are doing. I can tell if a film isn't holding my attention because I find myself watching the clock and changing position a lot.

See also: watch

work against the clock

to work very fast because you know you only have a limited period of time to do something. Scientists were working against the clock to collect specimens before the volcano erupted again.

See also: against, work

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around the clock

all day and all night without stopping. One lane on the bridge is closed around the clock for the next three months.

See also: around

punch a clock

1. to record on a special clock when you arrive and leave work. In some offices, if you don't punch a clock, you don't get paid.

2. to go to work every day. Someone who is retired doesn't have to punch a clock or commute.

See also: punch

a race against the clock

a race against time

See also: against, race

roll back the clockSee at: around the clock

See also: back, roll

turn back the clock

to make things the same as they were at an earlier time. I cannot vote for someone who promises to turn back the clock to better days because that's impossible.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form turn the clock back

See also: back, turn