What does "Clock in/out" mean?

To record arrival/departure at work From time clocks used to record work hours. Now used metaphorically too.

How do you use "Clock in/out" in a sentence?

Clock in at nine. I clocked out early. Don't forget to clock in. What time did you clock in?

Clock in/out

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To record arrival/departure at work

打卡记录上下班

Registrar la llegada/salida del trabajo

出勤・退勤を記録する

출퇴근을 기록하다

From time clocks used to record work hours. Now used metaphorically too.

来源于记录工作时间的打卡机。现在也用作比喻。

Viene de los relojes de fichar para registrar horas de trabajo. Ahora también se usa metafóricamente.

勤務時間を記録するタイムカードから来た表現。比喩的にも使われる。

근무 시간을 기록하는 타임 레코더에서 유래. 현재는 비유적으로도 사용됨.

Examples

Clock in at nine.
九点打卡上班
Fichar a las nueve
9時に出勤を記録する
9시에 출근 기록을 찍어
I clocked out early.
我提前打卡下班了
Fiché la salida temprano
早めに退勤した
일찍 퇴근 기록을 찍었어
Don't forget to clock in.
别忘了打卡
No olvides fichar
出勤記録を忘れないで
출근 기록 찍는 거 잊지 마
What time did you clock in?
你几点打卡的？
¿A qué hora fichaste?
何時に出勤した？
몇 시에 출근했어?

Pronunciation

/klɒk ɪn/

Usage Guide

Context: work, timekeeping, attendance

Tone: neutral, workplace

✓ Do Say

Clock in.
打卡上班。
Fichar a la entrada.
出勤を記録する。
출근 기록하다.
Clock out.
打卡下班。
Fichar a la salida.
退勤を記録する。
퇴근 기록하다.
Clocked in.
打卡了。
He fichado.
出勤した。
출근했어.

✗ Don't Say

Universal expression
通用表达
Expresión universal
世界共通の表現
보편적으로 사용되는 표현
Still used literally and metaphorically
字面和比喻意义都在用
Se usa literal y metafóricamente
文字通りにも比喩的にも使われる
문자 그대로, 비유적으로 모두 사용

Common Mistakes

Universal English
Still literal in many jobs

Origin & History

From mechanical time clocks used to stamp workers' time cards.

Etymology: From mechanical time clocks

First recorded: Industrial era expression

Cultural Context

Era: Industrial era onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Factory culture; Workplace

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

Clock inClock outClock offClocked in