clock in

clock in

1. To mark one's arrival at work, as on a time clock (a device that stamps the arrival and departure time onto each employee's timecard, or records the times digitally). In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "clock" and "in." I got in trouble with the boss because I clocked in 20 minutes late today. Go see Janet, she'll clock you in. The department head is in a bad mood today, so it's a good thing all of the interns clocked in on time for once.

2. To complete a task or competition in a certain length of time. Unfortunately, you clocked in five-tenths of a second behind the swimmer who won the race. I don't know how, but I somehow managed to clock in just ahead of the fastest kid in our class! Ugh, I ran my hardest and still clocked in behind Mona.

3. To reach a certain speed. Did you see that? His slap shot clocked in at 80 miles per hour! You're getting a ticket because you clocked in at 90 miles an hour—and the speed limit here is only 55. Coach said your last fastball clocked in at 93 miles per hour—nicely done!

See also: clock

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

clock someone in

to observe and record someone's time of arrival. The manager says he clocked you in at noon. That's a bit late, isn't it?

See also: clock

clock in

to record one's time of arrival, usually by punching a time clock. What time did she clock in? She forgot to clock in today.

See also: clock

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

clock in

Begin work, as in She clocked in late again. Also, clock out, end work, as in Please wait for me; I forgot to clock out. The allusion here is to punching a time clock, a device that punches the time on a card to record when an employee arrives and departs. [Late 1800s]

See also: clock

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

clock in

v.

1. To begin an activity at some recorded time, as by stamping the time on a timecard: The workers must clock in before 8:00.

2. To be measured as having some speed: The fastest bicycle riders clocked in at over 40 miles per hour.

3. To complete a task or activity after some duration of time: The slowest cars in the race clocked in at 12 minutes.

See also: clock

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

clock in

in. to record one’s arrival at a set time. He clocked in three minutes late.

See also: clock

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