clock watcher
Definition
Noun: A person, especially an employee, who frequently checks the time, showing eagerness for the workday to end or a break to begin. This term implies a lack of engagement or enthusiasm for the work itself.
Usage
The term "clock watcher" is used to describe an employee who is more focused on the passage of time than on their work tasks. It carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting boredom or a desire to leave.
Examples
- The manager noticed he was a clock watcher, always looking at the clock starting an hour before his shift ended.
- To be a productive team, we need engaged members, not clock watchers.
- She became a clock watcher after her responsibilities were reduced to mundane tasks.
Advanced Usage
- "To clock-watch" (verb, often hyphenated): The act of frequently checking the time at work.
- He spent the afternoon clock-watching, waiting for 5 PM.
Variants and Related Words
- Clock-watching (noun, often hyphenated): The habit or action of a clock watcher.
- Constant clock-watching is a sign of low morale.
Synonyms
- Time-watcher
- Slacker (stronger, implies avoiding work)
- Disengaged worker
Idioms
- To watch the clock: An idiomatic phrase with the same meaning as being a clock watcher.
- I spent the whole meeting watching the clock.
Noun
-
a worker preoccupied with the arrival of quitting time
