banker



banker's dozen

One less than a dozen, i.e., 11. A play on "a baker's dozen" (13 rather than 12), it refers to lending in which interest is deducted at the time of the loan, therefore yielding less than what the loan actually stipulated. A soccer team has a banker's dozen players on the field at any given time.
See also: dozen

bankers' hours

A working day that is shorter than usual or acceptable, especially one that begins late and ends early. It refers to the traditional opening times for banks, which formerly opened at 10 AM and closed at 3 PM. With the boss out on vacation, some of us have been working bankers' hours for the past couple of weeks.
See also: hour

banker's hours

A limited work schedule (as banks were once known for having short work days and being closed on holidays and weekends). You won't be able to reach her on a Saturday—she keeps banker's hours.
See also: hour

banker's hours

Fig. short work hours: 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. When did you start keeping banker's hours? There aren't many bankers who keep banker's hours these days.
See also: hour

emptier than a banker's heart

Rur. completely empty. My wallet was emptier than a banker's heart. His pockets were emptier than a banker's heart.
See also: empty, heart

keep banker's hours

Fig. to work or be open for business for less than eight hours a day. The advertising agency keeps banker's hours. They are only open until four. James doesn't really work full-time. He keeps banker's hours.
See also: hour, keep

banker’s hours

n. short work hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. When did you start keeping banker’s hours?
See also: hour

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Athol-Scottish
HelgaHEL-gah (German), HEL-gaw (Hungarian)Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Ancient Scandinavian
ÁEdh-Ancient Irish
Danna-English
Nanna (1)NAN-nah (Danish), NAHN-nah (Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic)Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Norse Mythology
Boitumelo-Southern African, Tswana