The phrase "clocked up" refers to the accumulation of something, usually time or miles. The phonetic transcription of this word in IPA would be /klɒkt ʌp/. It is a compound word made up of two parts - "clocked" and "up". The word "clocked" is pronounced /klɒkt/ and refers to recording or measuring time. The word "up" is pronounced /ʌp/ and is used to indicate an increase or accumulation of something. Therefore, when combined, "clocked up" refers to the recording and accumulation of time or distance.
Clocked up is a phrasal verb that has various meanings and uses in different contexts. In a literal sense, it can refer to the measurement of time recorded by a clock or other timekeeping device. For example, you can say, "He clocked up 10 hours of work yesterday," meaning he worked for a total of 10 hours as recorded by his time clock.
In a figurative sense, "clocked up" can imply the accumulation or achievement of a certain quantity or milestone. For instance, if someone said, "She has clocked up over a million miles driving professionally," it indicates that she has driven a distance exceeding one million miles in her career.
The phrase can also denote the accumulation of points, goals, or achievements in a game or sport. For example, in a football match, you might say, "The team has clocked up three goals in the first half," signifying that the team has scored three goals during that period.
Furthermore, "clocked up" can convey the accumulation of debts, expenses, or financial obligations. In this context, you might hear someone say, "He has clocked up huge debts on his credit cards," indicating that he has accumulated a substantial amount of debt through credit card usage.
Overall, "clocked up" is a versatile phrase used to describe the recording, attainment, accumulation, or achievement of various quantities or milestones in different areas of life.
The phrase "clocked up" is derived from the verb "clock", which has multiple meanings. The etymology of "clock" can be traced back to the Middle Dutch word "klocke", and the Old North French word "cloque", both of which referred to a bell.
Over time, "clock" came to mean measuring or recording time, as in the mechanical device we commonly refer to as a clock. This led to the development of phrases such as "clocking in" or "clocking out", which originally referred to recording working hours by punching a time clock.
"Clocked up" specifically emerged as a phrase indicating the accumulation or recording of time or distance, often in the context of achievement or accomplishment. For example, someone might say they have "clocked up" a certain number of hours, miles, or other numerical measurements.