after-hours

[ af-ter-ouuhrz, -ou-erz, ahf- ]

adjective

1. occurring, engaged in, or operating after the normal or legal closing time for business:

   an after-hours drinking club.

Word History and Origins

Origin of after-hours¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

After normal working hours, after closing time; also, after legal or established opening hours. For example, I haven't time while the shop is open, but I can see you after hours , or The restaurant employees sometimes stayed for a meal after hours . This term originally referred to laws governing business hours. It also gave rise to the term after-hours club , for a drinking club that remained open later than similar establishments. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

After hours of searching with mountain rescue, her sister Faye was told that the "bubbly, caring and brilliant mum" had taken her own life.

From BBC

When she played an insecure, nutty waitress who sketches her idols from the 1960s in “After Hours,” The Times called her performance “touchingly bizarre.”

From Los Angeles Times

In due time, the crowd pushed down the barrier between the overflow area and 7th Ave., because after hours of standing people had begun to climb and sit on the temporary fence.

From Salon

“Maybe two months ago, we had one midday. … And we had a stabbing a couple of weeks ago that was after hours.”

From Los Angeles Times

The girl who wanted to compete in sports, Doyle added, “had to fight for after- hours time on the fields. Only the boys’ teams were given uniforms and trophies.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• midnight