clock watcher

noun

1. an employee who demonstrates lack of interest in a job by watching the time closely to be sure to stop work as soon as the workday or shift is over.
2. any person who watches the time closely, as in expectation of some news or event.

clock-watcher

noun

1. an employee who checks the time in anticipation of a break or of the end of the working day

Other Words From

• clock watching noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clock watcher¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

A salary of about $45,000 a year is being offered to the succesful clock-watcher.

From The Daily Beast

He was no respecter of time, neither did he emulate his military colleague in being a clock-watcher.

From Project Gutenberg

That was one day when the best company man became a clock-watcher.

From Project Gutenberg

Larner was anything but a clock-watcher, but on a certain bright day in June he was seated in his laboratory doing just that.

From Project Gutenberg