like one o'clock
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Very quickly or vigorously.
Register: slang
Examples
Brought up as a gentleman, he was, if ever a man was. Ed’cated at no end of expense. Went into the Marshal’s house once to try a new piano for him. Played it, I understand, like one o’clock—beautiful! As to languages—speaks anything.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “like one o'clock” mean?
Very quickly or vigorously.
Is “like one o'clock” formal or informal?
like one o'clock is generally slang.