Time is Ticking 24/7: The Unending Demand for Availability
twenty-four/seven (24/7) - (adjective, adverb) Indicates that something—a store, a service, a person—is available at all times, all day, every day. First popularized in the latter half of the 20th century, initially describing shops that never close, but has since permeated various 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).
A humorous look from a theater review by Ed Siegel in the Boston Globe (Feb. 1, 2005) calls out, “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?”
Related Terms and Synonyms
- Always On: Just like that one friend who’s eternally active on social media!
- Around the Clock: Perfect for hospitals and owl-eyed workers.
- Nonstop: What they probably mean when your favorite band’s touring schedule never seems to end.
- All Day Everyday: Typically applied to someone consistently annoying with ‘Yo mama’ jokes.
Proverbs and Expressions
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“The work of the past 24 hours should not crowd the future.”
(Inspirational? Or depicted too closely to all-nighter culture?) -
“The world doesn’t stop at five o’clock, and neither do we.”
(Oops, a bit of corporate indoctrination creeping in? 😂)
Literary and Pop Culture References
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Books:
- “Hour Game” by David Baldacci – for some round-the-clock crime-solving!
- “Around-the-Clock Detective: Quasi-Pulp and Neo-Noir Fiction at its Finest” by I. M. Putting-in-the-Hours.
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Movies:
- Clerks (1994) – Who knew being open 24/7 could be this dull and humorous?
- The Terminal (2004) – Technically he’s there a lot longer but it’s quite the marathon!
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Songs:
- “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! – Technically not about 24/7, but try getting it out of your head. 💃
- “Working Day and Night” by Michael Jackson – ‘nuff said.
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Poetry:
- Shel Silverstein understood round-the-clock creativity, as with “The Funniest Thing”, engaging a whimsical perpetual motion machine of imagination.
Published by Timeless Ink, October 2023
As the Stewardess said: Life is full of twinkling moments, but remember, your cherished 24/7 should also include an occasional pause. Make sure you switch off, and savor those intermissions.
