Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Around the clock

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Around the clock" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourTime, Speed, & Urgency collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Time, Speed, & Urgency

Around the clock

Around the clock
Continuously for 24 hours a day without stopping; all day and all night.
History & Origin

The idiom originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, heavily tied to the rise of mechanized industrial labor and the introduction of continuous 24-hour factory shifts. It visually references the hands of a clock completing a full 360-degree rotation, covering both the AM and PM cycles. The phrase gained widespread cultural popularity in the 1950s with the explosion of Bill Haley & His Comets' rock and roll hit, 'Rock Around the Clock.'

Examples
Workplace Email

To ensure we hit the product launch deadline on Monday, our engineering teams in both London and Sydney will be working around the clock this weekend.

Casual Conversation

After my son caught the flu, my husband and I had to look after him around the clock just to keep his fever down.

Academic Writing

The implementation of automated assembly lines allows modern manufacturing facilities to operate around the clock, significantly increasing production efficiency while reducing human labor costs.

News/Media

Emergency services worked around the clock to clear the debris and restore power to thousands of homes following the severe storm.

Formal Speech

Our medical personnel have demonstrated unparalleled dedication, providing around-the-clock care to patients in critical condition during this healthcare crisis.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. The internet café is open around the clock, so you can go there at 3:00 AM if you need to study.

B. I only have ten minutes left, so I need to hurry around the clock to finish my exam.

C. She arrived around the clock at exactly 5:00 PM for her job interview.

D. The circular racetrack was designed so that the race cars could drive around the clock.