A nine-to-five is an ordinary office job with fixed daily hours. A nine-to-five job, back to the nine-to-five, escape the nine-to-five.
The hours are rarely nine to five any more, but the phrase survives as shorthand for routine salaried work. It is usually said with a sigh, since it stands for the ordinary rather than the exciting.
1nounnine-to-fiveAn ordinary office job with fixed daily hours.
“He gave up the nine-to-five and went back to the boats.”
nine-to-five is a job.
Also accepted in games: 9 to 5
Practised in Work & Careers