on the hour

Idioms  

1. At every hour exactly; one o'clock, two o'clock, and so on. For example, The shuttle to New York departs on the hour. An extension of this idiom is every hour on the hour, meaning every time the clock's big hand reaches twelve, as in The bus passes by the house every hour on the hour.

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Example Sentences

Musk wants SpaceX to eventually launch a Starship every hour, on the hour, but the vehicle is still in its testing phase.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Arteta's decision to keep faith with his EFL Cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of first-choice David Raya blew up in his face when he dropped Rayan Cherki's routine cross for O'Reilly's opener on the hour.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

As if to revive potentially flagging interest along the way, something big would hit the stage almost on the hour.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Kakuta got his second and his team's third on the hour mark and the Leopards then had a fourth goal scored by Fiston Mayele ruled out by VAR for a handball.

From Barron's • Dec. 30, 2025

"I realize this may seem inap-propriate, but according to Samuel W. Westing's will, I must read another document on the hour."

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin