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.
She would offer her on-the-job experience and political network to Berkeley while “learning from the students and from the faculty about what we should be talking about as we go forward” in politics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
AI has automated entry-level tasks that once served as on-the-job training.
From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026
So, while tooting your own horn can be uncomfortable, logging and publicizing on-the-job wins is about controlling your professional narrative.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
“If, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days,” Vice President J.D.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2025
Holly had enough on-the-job experience to realize that she was under fire, and immediately curled her elfin frame into a ball, minimizing the target.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
Joe Root says some England players are having to "learn on the job" in 50-over cricket because of a lack of exposure to the format.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
AI’s impact on the job market remains a big question mark, though some companies have cited AI investments while announcing high-profile layoffs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
One way to do that is to ask questions about what the company would want to see from you during your first six months on the job.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
After his death, scores of mourners gathered outside the West L.A. station house where Deng worked to celebrate his time on the job.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
After six months on the job, Cullen knew it was inevitable that the sand would creep into his socks despite the canvas gaiters covering his pant legs and shoes.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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.
