put the clock back

English

Alternative forms

• put the clocks back

Pronunciation

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Verb

put the clock back (third-person singular simple present puts the clock back, present participle putting the clock back, simple past and past participle put the clock back)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To change the time in a time zone to an earlier time, e.g. for the end of daylight saving time.

   Don't forget that this Sunday we put the clocks back an hour.

2. (idiomatic, intransitive) To put something back to the state it was in a previous era.

   He wants to turn the clock back to the 1950s.

   Synonyms: turn back the clock, turn the clocks back

Related terms

• put the clock forward