2025-06-02 Around the clock – The English We Speak

Introduction

An expression that talks about time. Learn it here.

Feifei 
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I’m Feifei.

Phil
And I’m Phil. Feifei, you look like you haven’t stopped working.

Feifei
I know! There is so much happening right now. I’ve been working around the clock.

Phil
Why don’t we have a closer look at that – ‘around the clock’? It’s a nice image, but it doesn’t mean that you’ve been going round an actual clock, does it?

Feifei
No, no. It just means all day and all night. For example, if you’re available around the clock, people can contact you at any time. If you’re working around the clock, then it means that you work all day and all night, like me.

Phil
Sounds like you might need a break. Let’s listen to some other people using the expression ‘around the clock’.

Examples
I’ve got 50 people coming round for dinner tomorrow, so I’ve been cooking around the clock.

I’m talking about wedding planning around the clock at the moment. I can’t wait for it to be over, but I’m excited too. It’s only a couple of weeks away.

I’ve got a really important exam coming up so I’m studying around the clock. I am so tired.

Feifei
We’ve been learning the expression ‘around the clock’. It means all day and all night. But you also hear ’round the clock’, with ’round’ instead of ‘around’. The meaning is the same.

Phil
Yes, and ’round-the-clock’ and ‘around-the-clock’ are sometimes used before a noun as an adjectival phrase – ‘around-the-clock coverage’ or ’round-the-clock availability’.

Feifei
Now, the great thing about our programmes, is that they are available around the clock.

Phil
Yes, you can do round-the-clock practice with our programmes. Make sure you don’t miss the next one!

Feifei
Bye!

Phil
Bye!