# milk the clock

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/milk-the-clock
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To use as much time as one can in order to gain a benefit.

## Examples

- The team is just milking the clock to keep their lead.
- The contractor was clearly milking the clock to increase his billable hours for the project.
- Rather than finishing the assignment early, the employee chose to milk the clock until the final bell rang.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.