Meaning & use
punch the time clock
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Meaning
phraseidiominformal
To record the time you arrive at and leave work, usually by using a special machine or electronic system.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase: I punch the time clock at 9 a.m. The object is 'the time clock'.
Patterns
- punch the time clock
- punch in
- punch out
Don't forget to punch the time clock before you leave.
Workers punch the time clock at the start and end of their shifts.
He was late because he couldn't find the time clock to punch.
Word forms
| third person singular | punches the time clock |
|---|---|
| past tense | punched the time clock |
| past participle | punched the time clock |
| -ing form | punching the time clock |
Common combinations
- punch in
- Employees must punch in when they arrive.
- punch out
- She punched out at 5 p.m. and went home.
- time clock
- The time clock is near the entrance.
- punch the clock
- Some people say 'punch the clock' instead of 'punch the time clock'.
Synonyms and how they differ
- clock in
- Means the same but is more common in British English and does not need 'the time clock'.
- clock out
- The opposite action: recording the end of work.
Word family
- time clock noun
- The machine or system used to record working hours.
- timecard noun
- A card used with a time clock to record hours.
Commonly confused: punch the time clock or punch in?
punch the time clock vs punch in
This is a shorter way to say 'punch the time clock' when arriving at work; 'punch out' is for leaving.
Practice
At the factory, workers must ______ before they start their shift.
Choose one answer.
The full phrase is 'punch the time clock'. 'Punch the time' is incomplete, 'clock the time' is not used, and 'punch on the clock' is not the standard expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “punch the time clock”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.