watching the clock tick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "watching the clock tick" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of observing the passage of time, often in a context of impatience or waiting. Example: "As I sat in the waiting room, I found myself watching the clock tick, counting down the minutes until my appointment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

While waiting for customer service representatives to take his call, Coffin, 31, surfed the Internet and, watching the clock tick away, entered LowerMyBills at Network Solutions.

Forbes

I'm watching the clock tick over past 1 am in San Francisco as my company and I spend the week at salesforce.com's Dreamforce 2012.

Forbes

(My daughter never met a curfew that she didn't cut too close. Result: I was up most nights in a cold sweat watching the clock tick).

Huffington Post

I don't know about you but when I was in school I remember watching the clock tick down the final seconds until we were released.

Huffington Post

You only have five minutes to sum up your whole life trauma [laughs], and you're watching the clock tick down as you're doing it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's May, and students everywhere are making last-minute preparations for the prom and eagerly watching the clocks tick down to summer break.

TechCrunch

ALBANY — Night after night, Tom O'Clair watched the clock tick past midnight in the halls of the Capitol.

The New York Times

"We nervously watched the clock tick away, hoping and sometimes praying for some finality," said Representative Paula Bono Dockery, a Republican.

The New York Times

Crammed into the tiny Soyuz capsule with two crewmates from the International Space Station, Peake watched the clock tick past the time when the main parachute was meant to deploy with a reassuring tug.

The Guardian

But for now, we can but watch the clock tick towards 4 March and the possibility of a government shutdown on a scale never seen before in the western world.

The Guardian - Opinion

And on Saturday morning, President Obama made yet another public plea for some kind of compromise in his weekly video address, demanding that Washington get the country's "fiscal house in order," as much of the nation watched the clock tick toward a deadline of midnight Tuesday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "watching the clock tick" to effectively convey the feeling of anticipation or boredom while waiting for something. It's a vivid and easily understood idiom.

Common error

While effective, "watching the clock tick" is a common expression. Consider alternative phrases or descriptive language to add originality to your writing, especially if used frequently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "watching the clock tick" primarily functions as a descriptive idiom. It vividly portrays the act of observing time pass, often conveying feelings of impatience, boredom, or anticipation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "watching the clock tick" is a grammatically correct and understandable idiom used to describe the experience of time passing slowly, often accompanied by feelings of boredom or anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While effective, consider using alternative phrases to avoid overuse. It is an idiomatic way of depicting impatience or anticipation while waiting. The phrase serves to vividly express the feeling of time dragging, a sentiment readily grasped by readers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Counting down the minutes

Focuses on the act of anticipation and tracking time until a specific event.

Observing time drag on

Replaces the visual image of a clock with the sensation of time moving slowly.

Feeling time crawl by

Captures the subjective experience of time moving extremely slowly.

Staring at the timepiece

Focuses on the physical act of looking at a time-measuring device.

Seeing time slip away

Emphasizes the feeling of time passing quickly, often with a sense of loss or urgency.

Marking time

Suggests a lack of progress or purpose during the waiting period.

Noting the passage of time

A more formal and neutral way of describing the act of observing time.

Biding one's time

Implies waiting patiently for an opportunity or event to occur.

Anticipating the moment

Highlights the feeling of excitement or eagerness for a future event.

Waiting with bated breath

Emphasizes the anxious anticipation of a significant event.

FAQs

What does "watching the clock tick" mean?

The phrase "watching the clock tick" describes the act of observing time pass, usually when someone is bored, impatient, or eagerly awaiting something.

How can I use "watching the clock tick" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe feeling impatient: "I was "counting down the minutes", watching the clock tick until the meeting ended."

What can I say instead of "watching the clock tick"?

You can use alternatives like "observing time drag on", "feeling time crawl by", or ""counting down the minutes"" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "watching the clock tick"?

Yes, "watching the clock tick" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.