rush hour
Also rush-hour.
[f. rush n.2 + hour.]
A period of the day during which the movement of people is at its height, esp. one during which large numbers of people are travelling to or from work. Also attrib.
| 1898 Westm. Gaz. 28 Oct. 8/3 Trailer cars can be put on during the ‘rush hours’, mornings and evenings. 1907 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp 233 As solid as granite in the ‘rush-hour’ tide of humanity, stood the Man from Nome. 1926 Daily Graphic 13 May 1 (caption) The ‘rush hour’ at Earl's Court yesterday. Travelling discomforts are mitigated by much good humour and politeness. 1931 Morn. Post 18 Aug. 6/4 Rush-hour trains held up. 1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase iv. 50 The place is like the Corner House in the rush hour. 1955 Times 17 June 9/4 Even now, great congestion is caused by traffic entering and leaving the park, particularly in the rush hours. 1961 I. Murdoch Severed Head xxvii. 221 Through the rush-hour traffic the god that protects drunken men protected me. 1973 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer iii. 32 It was the first of London's evening rush-hours, and their taxi made only a tedious stop-go progress. 1977 B. Pym Quartet in Autumn ii. 17 A woman, slumped on a seat on the Underground platform while the rush hour crowds hurried past her. |