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clock in

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clock in

to record one's time of arrival, usually by punching a time clock. What time did she clock in? She forgot to clock in today.

See also: clock

clock someone in

to observe and record someone's time of arrival. The manager says he clocked you in at noon. That's a bit late, isn't it?

See also: clock

clock in

Begin work, as in She clocked in late again. Also, clock out, end work, as in Please wait for me; I forgot to clock out. The allusion here is to punching a time clock, a device that punches the time on a card to record when an employee arrives and departs. [Late 1800s]

See also: clock

clock in

v.

1. To begin an activity at some recorded time, as by stamping the time on a timecard: The workers must clock in before 8:00.

2. To be measured as having some speed: The fastest bicycle riders clocked in at over 40 miles per hour.

3. To complete a task or activity after some duration of time: The slowest cars in the race clocked in at 12 minutes.

See also: clock

clock in

in. to record one’s arrival at a set time. He clocked in three minutes late.

See also: clock