Green’s Dictionary of Slang

nine-to-five v.

[nine-to-five n.]

to lead a regular, routine (working) life.

1962
19701980199020002010
2016
Show quotations
[UK]R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 25: Better than nine-to-fiving it, sex, cocktails and rows in a pseudo-tudo cottage.
[US]R. Woodley Dealer 117: ‘Jimmy always aspired to be a hustler,’ a friend said. ‘Even when he was nine-to-fiving’.
[UK]A. Wheatle Crongton Knights 187: He looked like someone who nine-to-fived at a bank.