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Learn more English in a Minute
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Introduction
You know 'clock' – you look at it to check the time, it can be analogue or digital and you see them on the walls in buildings! There are some English phrases with the word 'clock' – learn some of them here with Beth.
Phrases with 'clock'
around the clock
all the time
- Their dog barks around the clock. It's never quiet in that house.
against the clock
as fast as possible so that you complete something before or within a certain time
- We're working against the clock. We have to be finished before they shut the building!
like clockwork
very regularly, often around the same time
- I wake up at 6 every morning without an alarm. It's like clockwork!
the clock is ticking
time is running out so you need to be quick
- Let's leave. The clock is ticking and I need to catch a train.
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Download a free transcript!
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TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Beth
You know this is a 'clock' so let's learn some phrases with this word.
Around the clock means all the time. It means you're doing something at every hour of the clock.
She works around the clock, looking after the family and doing a full-time job.
If you do something against the clock, you do it as fast as possible so that you complete it before or within a certain time.
I'm going to do this run against the clock. How far do you think I can get in one minute?
If something happens like clockwork, it happens very regularly, often around the same time. A phrase with the same meaning is regular as clockwork.
The dog barks just as I'm getting to sleep every night, like clockwork. It's so annoying!
And if the clock is ticking, time is running out so you better hurry!
Can you be a bit faster? Theclock is ticking and I don't want to be late.
Next
Learn more phrases and expressions in The English We Speak.
Find out what would happen if we didn't have clocks in this episode of 6 Minute English.
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