nine-to-five

nine to five

From 9 AM to 5 PM, considered the standard office hours for most workers. Can be used as an adjective before a noun, in which case the phrase is hyphenated. I got so depressed working nine to five behind a desk that I finally sold all my belongings and moved to India to teach English. When I was in college, all I wanted was a steady nine-to-five job that would pay a decent salary.
See also: five, nine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

nine-to-five

mod. typical in terms of working hours; structured and scheduled, starting and ending at set times. (From the expression from nine to five, normal working hours.) I really wanted a nine-to-five job until I finally got one.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • dooper
  • Can do
  • can-do
  • duper
  • double or nothing
  • a round robin
  • round robin
  • eleventh hour
  • heads I win, tails you lose
  • bleeding edge
References in periodicals archive
"Perhaps most importantly, however, these businesses are highlighting the huge change under way in the UK workforce, a transformation that is seeing more women in work and more people turning to self-employment and flexible working as they shun the traditional nine-to-five model.
Thousands shun 9 to 5 to start own business
In those days a director could have risen in the ranks of nine-to-five office jobs and had not an inkling of what the hands-on, on-call 24/7 job was actually about.
Harrowing memories of a '60s social worker
"I can't see myself going back to the nine-to-five after raising money for charity for the last year or so," he told the GDN.
New role for 'Nabs'
"It would involve doing an equivalent nine-to-five job search, with someone looking over your shoulder to make sure you were not just on Facebook."
Tough benefit rules on way; QUEEN'S SPEECH: Government to unveil new crackdown
"Illness is not a nine-to-five condition and the NHS cannot be just a nine-to-five service," insisted Mr Brown, who will emphasise the message next week when he marks 60 years of the NHS.
PM tells GPs to work nights & weekends
The camera is live 24-hours a day, which is a bit pointless considering these employees only work Monday to Friday, nine-to-five. But if nothing interesting is happening, click the Random Cast Member link in the frame to see previously captured footage
WEB LIFE
"Practices such as the nine-to-five culture are archaic and can prevent people, taking up and staying in jobs."
Jobs pledge
ONE in three people no longer work traditional nine-to-five hours.
Bosses look for a flexible friend; Are you up to the job?
I have been self-employed for nearly nine months now and already the memory of my previous nine-to-five job seems like bliss.
24 hours with
Lt Col Chris Edwards said: "I strongly urge people to join the TA because it's different, it help breaks up the routine of working nine-to-five and it enables workers to take part in a wide range of activities.
Come and serve your country, TA urges
I find it quite scary that a year from now I'll be seriously considering job possibilities and making the nine-to-five existence an everyday reality.
Uni life
Bass is sponsoring the promotion linked to "The Office," the two, time Golden: Globe winning comedy series that is filmed in documentary-style and exposes the excruciating truth about the would of nine-to-five
American fans of Bass and BBC America, can win a trip for two across the pond by entering the "Happy Hour with The Office' sweepstakes on the BBC AMERICA website
If I do that I might as well snap my cue over my knee and go and find a nine-to-five job.'
Snooker: King on top after shock
You're not just some nine-to-five flick who listens to Barry Manilow.
Hate Eternal
Woodforest says it does 15 percent of its business outside normal nine-to-five business hours.
Round-the-clock money in Houston. (Marketing News)