closing time

closing time (countable and uncountable, plural closing times)

1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see closing,‎ time.
2. (Britain, Canada) The time when a public house or restaurant closes. Used to invite final drink orders.
   • 1933, George Orwell, chapter 14, in Down and Out in Paris and London‎:

     Sometimes when you sit in a restaurant, still stuffing yourself half an hour after closing time, you feel that the tired waiter at your side must surely be despising you.

   • 1992, Leonard Cohen, "Closing Time" from the album The Future,

     all the women tear their blouses off / and the men they dance on the polka-dots / and it's partner found, it's partner lost / and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops: / it's closing time

3. (Britain, figuratively) Used to suggest that a deadline for action is imminent.
   • 1995, GoldenEye

     No. You're supposed to die for me. By the way, I did think of asking you to join my little scheme, but somehow I knew that 007's loyalty was always to the mission — never to his friend. Closing time, James. Last call.

• drinking-up time
• last call
• last orders
• time