Welcome to the inaugural section of The Dictionary of Clichés! Get ready to get mesmerized, engaged, and possibly slightly amused. Today, we delve into the puzzling and exhausting idea of “24/7”.
🕰️ 24/7: The Infinite Hours of Denial and Convenience 💡
Definition: Indication that something—a store, a service, a person—is available at all times (twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week). Used since the second half of the 1900s, at first for shops that never close, the term was soon applied in numerous other contexts. For example, “I’m not looking to get a knife in my chest. I’ve got twenty-four/seven protection on me” (David Baldacci, Hour Game, 2004).
Or consider Ed Siegel’s observation from the Boston Globe: “The younger generation. What are we to do with them, with their ‘whatever’ attitude, their irony, and their 24/7 access to sex, drugs, rock’n’roll, and the Internet?”
Synonyms: Constantly, Nonstop, Around the clock, All the time
Antonyms: Occasionally, Sporadically, Infrequently
Related Phrases & Similar Terms
- Rock around the clock
- On call
- On demand
- Every minute of every day
Example in Literature, Poetry, Songs, Films
- Books: Hour Game by David Baldacci: “I’m not looking to get a knife in my chest. I’ve got twenty-four/seven protection on me.”
- Movies: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - remember that manic energy? 24/7 epitomizes that craziness.
- Songs: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! – all that jazz about infinite energy.
🧠 Thought-Provoking How-To
Ever considered recording your activities 24/7, observing yourself in perpetual motion, and questioning your need for constant availability? Could liberating yourself from the concept of 24/7 introduce some tranquil moments?
Inspirational Farewell:
Now, as you bask in the glow of enlightenment about this timely cliché, may your availability be ever-balanced, your moments well-timed, and your ‘24/7’ be transformed into ‘mindful timing’.
Stay cliché-free and mindful,
Percival Phrasesmith
