speaking clock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical, Formal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “speaking clock” mean?
A telephony or internet service that announces the exact time when called.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A telephony or internet service that announces the exact time when called.
A public time service accessible by telephone, historically a voice recording giving precise hour, minute, and second readings. Can refer to any automated voice announcing the time (e.g., in transport hubs). Also used as a colloquial term for a very punctual person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK and Commonwealth, 'speaking clock' is the standard, widely recognized term for the telephone time service. In American English, the equivalent service was historically known as 'time of day service', 'time announcement service', or 'audichron'. 'Speaking clock' is understood but less common in the US.
Connotations
In the UK, it has mild nostalgic/conservative connotations, associated with a pre-internet era. In the US, it's a more technical/foreign term.
Frequency
High frequency in UK historical/technical contexts; low-to-medium in US, where the concept is less culturally embedded.
Grammar
How to Use “speaking clock” in a Sentence
to call [the] speaking clockto listen to [the] speaking clockto be as accurate as [the] speaking clockVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speaking clock” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard; the term is a noun compound)
American English
- (Not standard; the term is a noun compound)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- His speaking-clock precision was legendary in the office.
American English
- She has a speaking-clock reliability about her deadlines.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in historical contexts of telecommunications or precision scheduling.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or telecommunications studies discussing pre-digital public infrastructure.
Everyday
Used by older generations recalling the past. Can be used metaphorically for a punctual person.
Technical
Used in telephony history and precision timekeeping discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “speaking clock”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “speaking clock”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speaking clock”
- Using 'speaking clock' to refer to a smart speaker (e.g., Alexa) telling the time (that's a 'voice assistant').
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I'll speaking clock it' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally 123 in the UK, operated by BT (British Telecom).
Yes, in many countries including the UK, the service remains operational, though call volumes are much lower.
Yes, colloquially it can describe someone who is exceptionally punctual or obsessed with precise time.
The speaking clock gives a spoken announcement at any time on request. A time signal (like the pips) is a broadcast audio/visual marker at specific intervals (e.g., on the hour).
A telephony or internet service that announces the exact time when called.
Speaking clock is usually technical, formal, historical in register.
Speaking clock: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspiːkɪŋ klɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspikɪŋ klɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"You're as reliable as the speaking clock." (meaning: extremely punctual)”
- “"I need to call the speaking clock on that." (archaic/jocular: meaning 'I need to verify the exact time/details')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CLOCK that is SPEAKING to you on the telephone, telling you the time instead of showing it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A SPOKEN MESSAGE / ACCURACY IS A VOICE
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common equivalent term for 'speaking clock' in historical US telephony?