nine to five

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See also: nine-to-five

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Typical office work hours in many countries.

Adverb[edit]

nine to five (not comparable)

  1. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • 1980, Dolly Parton (lyrics and music), “9 to 5”:
      Nine to five, what a way to make a living; barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving.

Noun[edit]

(the) nine to five (plural nine to fives)

  1. A typical working day.
    Going back to the nine to five after the weekend can be depressing.
    • 1974, Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson (lyrics and music), “The Bottle”, in Winter in America:
      He done quit his nine to five, he drink full-time / And now he’s living in a bottle
    • 2023 November 29, Paul Clifton, “West is best in the Highlands”, in RAIL, number 997, page 42:
      "It's always an early or late shift here - there's never a nine-to-five. I wouldn't like a cosy nine-to-five anyway.

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