the time of day

the time of day

1. Literally, the specific hour of the day. What an odd time of day to send repairmen over—we were just about to get ready for bed!
2. Time spent chatting or socializing. Used with the verb "pass." I love walking down to the local shop and passing the time of day with everyone in the neighborhood along the way.
3. Basic intelligence or knowledge. Used with negative constructions of the verb "know." We paid for her to attend the best university in the state, but three years in, she still doesn't know the time of day. How can you expect me to respect my boss when he doesn't even know the time of day?
4. Pleasant, friendly recognition or attention. Used in negative constructions, as in "won't give (one) the time of day." My colleagues wouldn't give me the time of day after they found out that my father had influenced the company's decision to hire me. Once he found such huge success, Tom won't give any of his old friends the time of day. That guy didn't give me the time of day back in high school, and now he won't stop calling me.
See also: of, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

time of day

The hour shown on a clock; also, a stage in any activity or period. For example, What time of day is the repairman coming? or This is hardly the time of day to ask for another installment when he's just turned one in . [Late 1500s] Also see not give someone the time of day.
See also: of, time
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • give (someone) the time of day, not to/won't
  • fight fires
  • at latter Lammas
  • lounge
  • lounge around
  • now
  • just another day at the office
  • all day and every day
  • day or night
  • from day to day
References in classic literature
A MAN in a Hurry, whose watch was at his lawyer's, asked a Grave Person the time of day.
"What, then," said the Man in a Hurry, eagerly, "is the time of day?"
Fantastic Fables
Passing the time of day to each other, we were soon in conversation, I asking him this and that question about the neighbouring country-side, of which I gathered he was an old inhabitant.
Quest of the Golden Girl
You are a capital bird at telling the time of day. But my friend and I must have our dinners."
Fables
"As long as you're consistent, the time of day doesn't seem to really matter.
When You Time Your Workout May Be Key to Staying Slim
"Our findings warrant future experimental research to determine whether promoting consistency in the time of day that planned and structured physical activity is performed can help individuals achieve and sustain higher levels of physical activity," a coauthor said in a statement.
Consistent Time of Day Aids Workout Habit; Findings seen for adults who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
In a study of 375 adults who have successfully maintained weight loss and who engage in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, most reported consistency in the time of day that they exercised, with early morning being the most common time.
Timing of exercise important for successful weight loss
Summary: The base fares will fluctuate based on the day of the week and the time of day.
Uber changes base fares for trips in Dubai
Consumers' tastes for savory and sweet snacks is determined by the time of day, and better-for-you snack consumption is predicated more by place, according to a recent study by The NPD Group, Port Washington, NY.
Time of day dictates sweet & savory snack consumption
The study found that 14.48 is the time of day when kids feel their most hungry and by the time the bell rings at 15.20, parents agree that their children are often irritable, argumentative, and desperate for a snack.
Half of parents stressed out by school run
Mr Walshaw added: "Because of the time of day they should use some discretion.
PS60 ticket in an 'empty car park'
The time of day modulation of neuroplasticity induction is due, at least in part, to changes in circulating cortisol levels [26].
Time of day does not modulate improvements in motor performance following a repetitive ballistic motor training task
Discovering that the time of day x level interaction was significant in dive surveys and nearly significant in shelf surveys indicates that fish were more likely to be in deeper water during dives in afternoon compared to dives in morning and midday.
Identifying sources of error in surveys of devils hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis)
Washington, Nov 22 (ANI): A new study has found that severity of heart attack is dependent on the time of day the attack occurs.
Heart attack between 1am to 5am causes greatest injury
Three time-related variables were investigated: the time of year the test was administered, the day of the week the test event occurred, and the time of day that the test event occurred.
An Investigation of the Relationship between Time of Testing and Test-Taking Effort