clock-watcher

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clock-watcher

One who often checks the time during an activity or event, as due to boredom and/or a desire to leave. He's a total clock-watcher, so I doubt that he likes his job.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 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.

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.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Cautious clock-watchers are more likely to be male, less educated, have moderate income and savings levels, and are most likely to be working full-time.
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It has many subsections with interesting tides such as "Chopping Wood with a Spoon"; "Shiny Object Polishers"; "Sheep Counters"; "Speed Demons"; "Gluttons"; "Drifters"; "Skimmers"; "Clock-watchers"; "Autopilots"; "Pattern Practicers; "Red Light Runners" and so forth.
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Mr Foster assured concerned clock-watchers the time would be correct next year.
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Soldiers are not clock-watchers. I believe that in this incident, fatigue may have played a major part."
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"We're not saying that we should turn into a nation of clock-watchers. Most people do not mind putting in some extra time when there's a crisis or an unexpected rush.
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Regional secretary Roger McKenzie said: "We're not saying that we should turn into a nation of clock-watchers. Most people do not mind putting in some extra time when there is a crisis or an unexpected rush.
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But residents of Herefordshire appear to be clock-watchers who leave the office as soon as they can.
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Such children become clock-watchers, lying in bed and growing increasingly frustrated as time passes and they are unable to sleep.
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Another common complaint about cost-plus contracts is that they turn homeowners into clock-watchers. I say a little homeowner obsession over labor costs is a good thing if it gets remodelers to obsess a little bit, too--not just about every 15-minute coffee break that runs to a half-hour but over all the supervision time and set-up and clean-up time that isn't in the estimate.
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Craftspeople are the opposite of clock-watchers; to them, the job is done when the objective has been achieved to--their satisfaction.
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