Stay on Time with Clock, Watch Expressions

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Stay on Time with Clock, Watch Expressions

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give you examples and sometimes notes on usage¹.

Today we talk about expressions related to keeping on time. To help us plan our time, we use tools — namely clocks and watches.

If something happens at the exact same time every day it is predictable. When an event is very regular, we can say we could "set our watch by it."

And that is our first expression – to set your watch by something.

You might hear someone using it like this:

Regina leaves her house to go to work every weekday at exactly 7a.m — never a minute earlier or later. You can set your watch by it.

In this example, you could say that Regina is a "creature of habit." This means she sticks to her plan no matter what happens. And that is why you can set your watch by her.

This expression can also describe someone who is always on time. They are reliable and punctual – like in this example.

A: John said he'd be here at 3 p.m. and it's 2:45 p.m. If he's late, we'll miss our train!

B: Don't worry. If John said he will be here, then he will be here. He's always right on time. You could set your watch by him.

Now, let's talk about clocks: devices that tell time.

Some events or activities happen easily and on time. And some systems operate without a problem. If everything is going as planned, we can say it is "running like clockwork."

Clockwork is a system of wheels and springs inside mechanical clocks. The term means something that is carefully made which runs smoothly² and on time.

Once, I ran a two-week teacher training class. It took a lot of work to organize and had "many moving parts," or things that needed to be done. But I'm happy to say that the training ran like clockwork!

Here is another way to say that: The training went off "without a hitch³." Here, "hitch" is a problem.

To run like clockwork means to operate with extreme regularity⁴. Some word experts say that using a clock mechanism⁵ to describe other areas of our lives dates from at least the late seventeenth century.

Now, listen to this example:

For a big company event, we rented a conference room in a big hotel. But we only had the space until 3 p.m. And we had a lot of issues to cover. Luckily, the event ran like clockwork. We got all our work done and still had time left over to have a little fun!

The expression "run like clockwork" can also mean to operate, manage, control, or direct something in a very smooth, efficient, reliable manner. Used this way, a noun or pronoun is used between "run" and "like clockwork."

Here are some examples:

When the new manager took over, he wanted to run the office like clockwork. So, he made the workers take lunch at set times every day.

When I lived in Seattle, I ran a children's theater festival like clockwork. All the performances were on time and everyone had a blast⁶!

Years ago in Washington, DC, I ran a children's summer camp like clockwork. All the activities were on time, and all the children had a blast.

And that's all the time we have for Words and Their Stories. But we'll be back at the same time next week because this show runs like clockwork. You can set your clock by it!

Words in This Story

habit –n. a usual way of behaving; something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way

reliable –adj. able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed

punctual –adj. doing something at the expected time

efficient –adj. able to produce desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

blast –n. (informal) a good time

1 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

2 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

3 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

4 regularity   

n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐

参考例句：

• The idea is to maintain the regularity of the heartbeat.问题就是要维持心跳的规律性。
• He exercised with a regularity that amazed us.他锻炼的规律程度令我们非常惊讶。

5 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

6 blast   

v.炸毁，摧毁；n.爆炸，爆破，一阵，汽笛声

参考例句：

• A huge bomb blast rocked central London last night.昨晚一次剧烈的炸弹爆炸震动了伦敦市中心。
• Not until last week was the project in full blast.工程直到上星期才全部开工。