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clock out

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To use a card or machine to show what time you finished work and left.

Literal meaning: To record ('clock') your exit ('out') on a timekeeping device.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To officially record the end of your working shift using a timekeeping device.

"Don't forget to clock out before you leave, or you won't be paid for the full shift."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To stop paying attention or mentally disengage (informal).

"After two hours of the lecture, he completely clocked out and started daydreaming."

Grammar: inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic informal

To die (informal, euphemistic or humorous).

"His grandfather clocked out peacefully in his sleep at the age of ninety-two."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Standard in American English; 'clock off' is the British equivalent. Widely used in workplaces with formal time-tracking. Also used informally to mean simply leaving work, and figuratively to mean dying (dark humour).

Commonly used with

shift work time early system machine

Forms

Base
clock out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
clocks out
he/she/it
Past simple
clocked out
yesterday
Past participle
clocked out
have + pp
-ing form
clocking out
continuous

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