time and a half: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Workplace
Quick answer
What does “time and a half” mean?
A rate of pay equal to one and a half times the employee's normal hourly wage, typically for overtime work.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rate of pay equal to one and a half times the employee's normal hourly wage, typically for overtime work.
In wider contexts, it can refer to any compensation or rate that is 50% higher than the standard rate. It is also sometimes used idiomatically to indicate an increased rate or intensity of effort for a specific period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Terminology surrounding labour law (e.g., 'working time regulations' in the UK vs. 'Fair Labor Standards Act' in the US) may frame the context differently, but the phrase itself is identical.
Connotations
Strongly associated with legal/contractual employment rights, union negotiations, and standard payroll practices in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in both UK and US workplace English.
Grammar
How to Use “time and a half” in a Sentence
[verb] + time and a half (e.g., get, pay, earn)work + [prepositional phrase] + for time and a halftime and a half + [noun] (e.g., rate, pay)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “time and a half” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Sunday shift offers a time-and-a-half rate.
- They were on a time-and-a-half agreement for the bank holiday.
American English
- The holiday work comes with time-and-a-half pay.
- We get time-and-a-half compensation for hours over forty.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Standard term in payroll, HR, and employment contracts to specify overtime compensation.
Academic
Rare; might appear in economics, sociology, or law papers discussing labour markets.
Everyday
Used by employees discussing their pay, especially when working extra hours.
Technical
A precise term in labour law and accounting.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “time and a half”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “time and a half”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “time and a half”
- Using it as an adjective without a noun (e.g., 'The pay was time and a half.' is correct; 'It was time and a half.' is vague).
- Confusing it with 'double time' (2x pay).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Overtime pay' is the general category of extra pay for extra hours. 'Time and a half' specifies the exact rate of that overtime pay: one and a half times the normal rate. Overtime could also be paid at 'double time' (2x) or another rate.
It depends on the country's and region's labour laws. In many jurisdictions (like the US under the FLSA for non-exempt employees), overtime must be paid at least at a rate of time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a week. In the UK, there is no statutory right to extra pay for overtime, but it is a very common contractual term.
Typically, salaried 'exempt' employees (e.g., many professionals, managers) are not eligible for overtime pay, including time and a half. Salaried 'non-exempt' employees are eligible. It depends on employment classification and local law.
Multiply the employee's standard hourly rate by 1.5. For example, if the normal rate is £20 per hour, time and a half is £20 x 1.5 = £30 per hour.
A rate of pay equal to one and a half times the employee's normal hourly wage, typically for overtime work.
Time and a half is usually formal, business, workplace in register.
Time and a half: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtaɪm ən ə ˈhɑːf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtaɪm ən ə ˈhæf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing specific; the phrase itself is idiomatic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock: your normal 'time' plus another half of that clock's face. One full time (1.0) + a half time (0.5) = time and a half (1.5).
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MONEY (specifically, extra time is proportionally extra money).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'time and a half' specifically mean?