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Milk the Clock

What Does "Milk the Clock" Mean?

homeidiomsMilk the Clock
"Milk the clock" is an English idiom. It means "to deliberately work more slowly than one can or should, especially to extend working hours or exploit overtime."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "milk the clock" used in a sentence:
  • Some employees will milk the clock to earn more overtime pay.
  • He was accused of milking the clock during the final stages of the project.
  • She warned her team not to milk the clock, as efficiency was paramount.
meaning for milk the clock

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Milk the Clock" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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