clock down
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To use up the last minutes of a game on purpose so your team wins.
Literal meaning: To make the clock go down (decrease) by using time.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To deliberately use up remaining game time, especially to protect a lead near the end of a match.
"With only two minutes left and a goal ahead, the team started to clock down and keep possession."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Primarily used in sports commentary, especially American football, basketball, and soccer. Teams 'clock down' when they have a lead and want to run out the clock. More common in American English sports contexts.
Commonly used with
lead clock time game match possession
Forms
Base
clock down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
clocks down
he/she/it
Past simple
clocked down
yesterday
Past participle
clocked down
have + pp
-ing form
clocking down
continuous
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