əˈraʊnd ðə klɒk
Time
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- going around the face of a clock
What does "around the clock" mean?
continuously, without stopping, 24 hours a day
Examples
- The emergency crew worked around the clock to restore power after the storm.
- Our customer support team is available around the clock.
- She studied around the clock in the weeks leading up to the bar exam.
Origin
From the idea of the clock hands completing full rotations without pause, popularized in the mid-20th century.
How to use it
Used to emphasize that something happens without any break or interruption.
Similar expressions
nonstop
day and night
24/7
continuously
Opposites
intermittently
occasionally
Related idioms
- in the long run
Over a long period of time
- better late than never
It's better to do something late than not to do it at all
- from time to time
occasionally, not regularly
- in the nick of time
Just in time; at the last possible moment
- run out of time
to have no more time left to do something
- time flies when you're having fun
Enjoyable moments seem to pass quickly
Use it in a practice answer
Try "around the clock" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.