desk

Related to desk: DSEK, IKEA

away from (one's) desk

Not at one's desk at a particular time. This phrase is typically said in an office environment on another person's behalf (as by a receptionist or assistant). I'm sorry, Mr. Medina is away from his desk right now. Can I take a message?
See also: away, desk

be away from (one's) desk

To not be at one's desk at a particular time. This phrase is typically said in an office environment on another person's behalf (as by a receptionist or assistant). I'm sorry, Mr. Medina is away from his desk right now. Can I take a message? The manager will be away from her desk all afternoon, I'm afraid. I suggest calling back tomorrow.
See also: away, desk

clear (one's) desk

To remove everything from one's desk. This phrase can be used both in schools (as an instruction before a test) and in workplaces (as an instruction to one who has been fired). All right, everyone, we're going to start the spelling test, so clear your desks. That underperforming employee was asked to clear his desk and leave the building.
See also: clear, desk

desk jockey

A worker who spends the majority of their time seated at a desk. Humorously likened to the jockey of a horse. I was breaking my back working construction for five years before I finally got a job as a desk jockey at the local bank. I feel sorry for all those desk jockeys trapped inside for eight hours a day.
See also: desk, jockey

hot desk

1. noun A desk or workstation that is shared between employees in an office. I've never worked at a hot desk in a company before; while it was strange not having my own desk at first, with everything done on laptops you barely notice it after a while!
2. verb To share a desk or workstation with other employees in an office. I've never hot desked in a company before; while it was strange not having my own desk at first, with everything done on laptops you barely notice it after a while!
See also: desk, hot

hot desking

The act or practice of sharing desks or workstations between employees in an office so as to cut down on the amount of office space required. I've never worked in a company that did hot desking before; while it was strange not having my own desk at first, with everything done on laptops you barely notice it after a while!
See also: desk, hot

ride a desk

To spend the majority of one's time working at a desk. A humorous play on "desk jockey," meaning the same. I was breaking my back working construction for five years before I finally got a job riding a desk at the local bank. I feel sorry for all those people stuck inside riding desks for eight hours a day.
See also: desk, ride
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*away from one's desk

Fig. not available for a telephone conversation; not available to be seen or spoken to. (Sometimes said by the person who answers a telephone in an office. It means that the person whom the caller wants is not immediately available due to personal or business reasons. *Typically: be ~; Step ~.) I'm sorry, but Ann is away from her desk just now. Can you come back later? Tom has stepped away from his desk, but if you leave your number, he will call you right back.
See also: away, desk
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

clear your desk

leave your job, especially having been dismissed.
See also: clear, desk
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

desk jockey

n. someone who works at a desk in an office. (Patterned on disk jockey.) I couldn’t stand being a cooped-up desk jockey.
See also: desk, jockey
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • away from (one's) desk
  • away from desk
  • be away from (one's) desk
  • at (one's) own game
  • answer for
  • pearly
  • not put it past
  • not put it past (someone)
  • hit the rock
  • babysit with (someone or something)
References in classic literature
The ticker began to reel out jerkily its fitful coils of tape, the desk telephone had a chronic attack of buzzing.
The Four Million
It's nothing but limes now, for everyone is sucking them in their desks in schooltime, and trading them off for pencils, bead rings, paper dolls, or something else, at recess.
Little Women
Mobbs moved slowly towards the desk, rubbing his eyes in anticipation of good cause for doing so; and he soon afterwards retired by the side-door, with as good cause as a boy need have.
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
With a cry he arose, dragging the heavy desk along the floor.
Winesberg Ohio
Flinging this final interjection at Miss Sally with immeasurable scorn and contempt, Sampson Brass thrust his head into his desk, as if to shut the base world from his view, and breathed defiance from under its half-closed lid.
The Old Curiosity Shop
I recall him bending his aching head, supported on his bony hand, over the book on his desk, and wretchedly endeavouring to get on with his tiresome work, amidst an uproar that might have made the Speaker of the House of Commons giddy.
David Copperfield
flag shall take its place among the other little treasures in your desk!"
The Two Destinies
When he came back he laid a thousand two-cent stamps on May Sethby's desk.
The Night Born
Only a brief glance did Pollyanna give about her; then, with a confused vision in her eyes of crimson draperies, book-lined walls, a littered floor, an untidy desk, innumerable closed doors
Pollyanna
Let us have a look into that room,' he added, lifting the sputtering candle from the desk.
Present At A Hanging And Other Ghost Stories
For such offenders, if any such there be, a rod of birch is hanging over the fireplace, and a heavy ferule lies on the master's desk.
Grandfathers Chair
There was a big desk in it, and a couple of big arm-chairs; a Turkey carpet adorned the floor, and the walls were decorated with sporting prints.
Of Human Bondage
The programme of my ranch life was as follows: Each morning, at eight-thirty, having been reading or correcting proofs in bed since four or five, I went to my desk. Odds and ends of correspondence and notes occupied me till nine, and at nine sharp, invariably, I began my writing.
John Barleycorn
'The keys of your cabinet, desk, drawers, and whatever else you possess,' said he, rising and holding out his hand.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
The teacher's desk and chair stood on a platform in one corner; there was an uncouth stove, never blackened oftener than once a year, a map of the United States, two blackboards, a ten-quart tin pail of water and long-handled dipper on a corner shelf, and wooden desks and benches for the scholars, who only numbered twenty in Rebecca's time.
Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm