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• clock watcher
  clock watcher

  noun

  an employee who demonstrates lack of interest in a job by watching the time closely to be sure to stop work as soon as the workday or shift is over.
• clock-watcher
  clock-watcher

  noun

  an employee who checks the time in anticipation of a break or of the end of the working day

clock watcher

American  

noun

1. an employee who demonstrates lack of interest in a job by watching the time closely to be sure to stop work as soon as the workday or shift is over.

2. any person who watches the time closely, as in expectation of some news or event.

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clock-watcher British  

noun

1. an employee who checks the time in anticipation of a break or of the end of the working day

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Other Word Forms

• clock watching
  noun

Etymology

Origin of clock watcher

First recorded in 1885–90