At work, busy, as in We've got three men on the job . [Late 1800s]
At work, busy, as in We've got three men on the job . [Late 1800s]
Paying close attention, alert, as in Trust Jim to find out the details—he's always on the job .
First recorded in 1935–40
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 54-45 on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the 17th person to take on the job.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
He's been learning on the job and he's done brilliant.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Apple’s next CEO isn’t sharing his strategy just yet — but the company just made one notable change before he’s even started on the job.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
After Turke’s death, more than a dozen controllers from across the U.S. wrote to Axelsson to share their own struggles with stress on the job and the stigma around seeking support.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
For my part, I took on the job of locking the house each night when my father was away.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
