1. Home
2. Idioms
3. run out the clock

run out the clock

---

---

run out the clock

  (American & Australian) also kill the clock (American)

to keep the ball away from the team competing against you at the end of a game so that they cannot score any points The Pistons thought they were running out the clock but lost the ball and the game in the last nine seconds.

See race against the clock, watch the clock, work against the clock

See also: clock, out, run