at that clock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at that clock" is not commonly used in written English and may be considered awkward or unclear.
It could be used in a context where you are referring to a specific time indicated by a clock, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "The meeting is scheduled to start at that clock, so please be on time."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Coaching report: Djokovic's serve edged classic for the ages Look at that clock, baby, just look at that clock: four hours and 43 minutes.

Independent

"You said you'd love me till the end of time/So I'm staring at that clock on the wall," she sang.

The New York Times - Arts

Sometimes you start looking at that clock and hope the clock runs out instead of being in that attack mode like we were for 37 minutes of the game".

The New York Times - Sports

So next time you take a look at that clock, spare a thought for how much Apple has paid for you to be able to look at it!

Forbes

In the second (Markov), we draw an inter-arrival time from the empirical distribution of such gaps (shown in Figure 2), advance the game clock by that amount, and generate a scoring event at that clock time.

EPJ Data Science

I once again looked at that clock, and it was a few minutes after 7 PM.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Fans of "Magna Carta Holy Grail" may get the opportunity to hear the full versions of the album's two tracks that clock in at less than a minute.

Huffington Post

A friend of mine recently had colon cancer surgery that clocked in at four hours.

The New York Times - Style

The trailers span just 10 combined minutes for a movie that clocks in at three hours and two minutes.

The Washington Post

It's a modest journey of a modest man that Mr. Arteta smartly doesn't inflate in a movie that clocks in at a fast 87 minutes.

The New York Times

The company promptly put her on the main stage as the Third Norn in Wagner's six-hour "Götterdämmerung," a part that clocks in at perhaps six minutes.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, "at that clock" can sound unusual. Consider using more common phrases like "at that time" or specifying the time directly (e.g., "at 7 PM").

Common error

Avoid using "at that clock" repeatedly in your writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "at that time", "according to the clock", or simply stating the time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at that clock" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating a specific point in time referenced by a particular clock. It specifies when something occurs in relation to the reading on a clock. Ludwig suggests it's not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Academia

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Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at that clock" is grammatically correct but not a commonly used expression in English. Ludwig indicates that while understandable, it's often better to opt for more standard alternatives like "at that time" or specify the exact hour. Its use is rare across various contexts, and it carries a neutral to slightly informal tone. While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian do use variations of the phrase, consider that clearer and more conventional phrasing is generally preferred. According to Ludwig AI, more natural alternatives exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at that time

Replaces the specific reference to a "clock" with a more general reference to "time".

at that hour

Substitutes "clock" with "hour", still indicating a specific time.

when the clock showed that time

Expands the phrase to explicitly describe the action of the clock displaying a certain time.

according to that clock

Indicates that the time is being referenced from a specific "clock"'s perspective.

by that clock's reading

Similar to the previous, but emphasizes the 'reading' or display of the clock.

as indicated by that clock

More formal way to state that time is shown by the "clock".

at the time shown on that clock

Emphasizes the time being 'shown' on the clock.

when that clock indicated

Uses "indicated" to refer to what time the clock displays.

by the time on that clock

This phrase subtly shifts the focus to the time itself, as measured by the clock.

based on that clock's time

Highlights that the time is 'based' on that of "clock".

FAQs

What does "at that clock" mean?

The phrase "at that clock" refers to a specific point in time as indicated by a particular clock. However, it's not a common expression and might sound awkward. Consider using "at that time" instead.

What can I say instead of "at that clock"?

You can use alternatives like "at that time", "at that hour", or specify the time directly (e.g., "at 3 PM").

Is "at that clock" grammatically correct?

Yes, "at that clock" is grammatically correct, but it's not a commonly used phrase. It's generally better to use more common and natural-sounding alternatives.

How can I use "at that clock" in a sentence?

While possible, using alternatives is recommended. For instance, instead of "The meeting starts at that clock", you could say "The meeting starts at that time" or "The meeting starts at 2 PM".