punch the clock

punch a/the clock

1. To record the time of one's arrival to and departure from work, often on a specialized clock or other device. Be sure to punch the clock each day or there may be issues processing your pay at the end of the week.
2. By extension, to do work in general, especially a steady 9-to-5 job. I've always dreamed of winning the lottery so I don't have to punch a clock for the rest of my life.
See also: clock, punch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

punch the (time) clock

1 (of an employee) clock in or out. 2 be employed in a conventional job with regular hours. North American
See also: clock, punch
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • punch a/the clock
  • clock out
  • clock in
  • set the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • put the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • move the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • turn the/(one's) clock(s) forward
  • turn back the clock
  • turn the clock back, to
  • set the/(one's) clock(s) ahead
References in periodicals archive
As a full-time faculty member, my load is five three-credit classes a semester and six office hours, which means I only have to "punch the clock" for twenty-one hours per week.
Let's respect staff as much as faculty
Do you remember your first summer job as a teenager, wherein you had to "punch the clock" four times a day by sliding the paper time card into that large machine attached to the wall?
NETtime: no use for anachronous time card processes
Times are tight at Monsters, Inc, the fright factory where its blue collar scarers and their assistants punch the clock, slipping through inter-dimensional portals (that's closet doors) to do their thing to their designated toddlers.
Culture: Film: Surprise monster of a hit; Mike Davies takes a look at the week's cinema releases
REAPING THE REWARDS: Robin Reid is not ashamed to enjoy the money he has earned the hard way with just three defeats in his 34 fight career, including 23 knockouts; PUNCH THE CLOCK: Robin Reid beats Hassine Cherifi on points over 12 rounds in a 1997 WBC title defence
BOXING: It's flash, bash and cash for the grim Reaper; SPOTLIGHT ON THE MAN TOPPING THE SKYDOME BILL IN BIG FIGHT
He based his decision on a federal law called the Portal-to-Portal Act, which specifically exempts employers from paying for pre- and post-work activities such as waiting to pick up protective gear or waiting in line to punch the clock.
No pay for security checks; Supreme Court rules in favor of retailers
solicitor general, said a federal law called the Portal-to-Portal Act specifically exempted employers from paying for so-called ''preliminary and postliminary'' activities such as time spent commuting, waiting to pick up protective gear or waiting in line to punch the clock.
Hourly pay for security checks taken up by court