early mark

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

early mark (plural early marks)

1. (chiefly New South Wales in Australia, colloquial) The permission to leave early (from class, school, workplace, etc.) before the scheduled end time; an early finish.
   • 2005, “Big night at the Dick Pratts”, in Sydney Morning Herald‎:

     The former PBL boss let slip in court this week that he needed an early mark yesterday to attend "a dinner" with the PM.

   • 2012, “Morale of the story”, in Sydney Morning Herald‎:

     There's nothing like an early mark for staff morale. Back in the days when I was living in a small rural town and writing for the local rag, my boss had a habit of calling it quits at 4pm and taking his staff across the road for a few drinks.

   • 2014, Cate Ellink, Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives - Lana, Harlequin Enterpises AU (→ISBN)

     “I'm sure Meagan won't mind giving you an early mark.” Lana wanted to take him home.

   • 2015, “After the storm: the lessons and the future threats”, in Sydney Morning Herald‎:

     It drove the Premier to give the masses an early mark. Get home early and beat the storm, he said at that first news conference, because there was worse to come.

   • 2017, “Eels applaud Arthur's plea for early mark”, in SBS News‎:

     Parramatta players have applauded coach Brad Arthur's plea for bosses to give employees an early mark to ensure a blockbuster NRL crowd for the early Friday clash with Newcastle.

   • 2018, Annita Katee, “Already getting an early mark! Roxy Jacenko picks up son Hunter, 3, in her $550,000 Bentley at midday after his second day of school”, in Daily Mail Australia‎:

     And Roxy Jacenko was thrilled to be reunited with her little boy when he got an early mark from classes on Wednesday.

• (regional Australia) early minute