🕔️
Five O'Clock
fayv uh-klok
Definitions
1
Time · Clock
Common
Represents the time 5:00, either AM or PM. Used to indicate a specific time for meetings, events, or as a general time reference.
Typically used in scheduling contexts or to indicate when something will occur or has occurred.
Meeting in the conference room at 🕔️
Work chat
I'll be done with work at 🕔️ if you want to grab dinner
Text message
In many Western cultures, 5:00 PM marks the traditional end of the workday.
2
Cultural · Reference
Uncommon
Used idiomatically to reference the phrase 'it's five o'clock somewhere,' suggesting it's acceptable to have an alcoholic drink regardless of the actual time.
Often used humorously to justify having a drink outside of conventional drinking hours.
Starting the weekend early... 🕔️ somewhere! 🍹
Social media caption
References the popular saying and Jimmy Buffett song 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere,' relating to happy hour culture.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Emoji standardized across platforms, becoming widely used in scheduling and appointment contexts.
Growth of digital calendars and scheduling apps
2017
Increasingly used in social media with 'five o'clock somewhere' references for drinking culture posts.
Rise of casual drinking culture references in social media
Cultural Context
In many Western cultures, 5 PM represents the boundary between work and leisure time, though this has become more fluid with remote work trends.
The phrase 'it's five o'clock somewhere' has become a cultural shorthand for justifying leisure activities, particularly drinking, at any time of day.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Associated with 'tea time' in some traditional contexts, though modern usage primarily relates to end of workday.
United States
Often associated with 'happy hour' and the end of the workday. The phrase 'five o'clock shadow' refers to visible beard growth by late afternoon.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used practically for time indication in messages. May reference traditional 9-to-5 work schedule or family dinner time.
Gen_Z: Often used ironically in memes about work-life balance or escaping responsibilities. May reference 'core hours' in flexible work arrangements.
Older: Primarily used literally to indicate the time. May be used in formal contexts like appointment scheduling.
Millennials: Frequently used in work chat contexts for scheduling or to express anticipation for the end of workday. Often paired with drink emojis for social plans.
Common Combinations
🕔️🍻
Happy hour, after-work drinks, or 'it's five o'clock somewhere'
References the tradition of having drinks after work, especially on Fridays.
🕔️👔
End of workday or leaving the office
Symbolizes the transition from work to personal time.
🕔️🏃
Rushing to leave work or hurrying at 5 PM
Represents the common experience of rushing out at the end of the workday.