time and a half

noun

1. a rate of pay for overtime work equal to one and one half times the regular hourly wage.

time and a half

noun

1. the rate of pay equalling one and a half times the normal rate, often offered for overtime work

Word History and Origins

Origin of time and a half¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Idioms and Phrases

A rate of pay for overtime work that is one and one-half times higher than the regular hourly wage, as in I don't mind working Sunday so long as I get time and a half . This expression uses time in the sense of “the number of hours worked.” [c. 1885]

Example Sentences

If she agrees to work back-to-back shifts, she earns time and a half for the second shift.

From Los Angeles Times

He describes the song as akin to a “slow reggae” with “a double time and a half time all strung together in ballad form, kind of.”

From Los Angeles Times

Under federal rules, employers must pay most salaried workers time and a half after 40 hours a week if the employees earn less than about $35,000 a year.

From New York Times

A bill that requires employers to gradually increase minimum wage and pay employees time and a half by 2022 has prompted some to slash overtime.

From Los Angeles Times

Starbucks is keeping its cafes and distribution centers open on Juneteenth, but hourly workers will get time and a half for working that day, the Seattle-based company said in a statement.

From Seattle Times