# run down the clock

idiom

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

## Meaning

To waste time at the end of a match such that it is terminated by running out of time, or during a match so a time penalty is made less severe.

## Examples

- The winning team tried to run down the clock.
- With a narrow lead, the players passed the ball slowly to run down the clock.
- The team adopted a defensive strategy to run down the clock, effectively preventing their opponents from mounting a final, desperate offensive.

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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.