Milk the clock

Posted by Smokey Stover on December 15, 2006

In Reply to: Milk the clock posted by Smokey Stover on December 15, 2006

: : what is the meaning of 'Milk the clock' ?

: In American football and basketball, there are numerous rules about when the referees can stop and start play. If you know these rules (and every coach knows them) you can run a stalling defense, as when you want to protect your lead in points by keeping the opponent from running a complete play. You milk the clock for minutes, even seconds, that keep the game from going anywhere except for the whistle that ends the half or whatever time period rules.
: The expression is also used for employees who milk the time-clock for extra minutes of pay, or fewer minutes of work.
: Ss

Another phrase used to describe a stalling defense is "tie up the ball (or puck)." This will also work in sports lacking all the regulated starts and stops of basketball and football, such as hockey and English football. With a few minutes of play left in the quarter (or half or game), sometimes you can, if you're ahead, just stooge around midfield with the ball or puck until the clock runs out.
SS

• Run down the clock Lewis 15/December/06
  • Run down the clock Bob 15/December/06
    • Run down the clock Brian from Shawnee 16/December/06
      • Run down the clock RRC 16/December/06
        • Run down the clock Bob 19/December/06