What exactly does "time" mean?

[AngusThermopyle]

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A couple dealers and dual-rates playing at the table said "players who call 'time' have technically just asked for a clock on themselves--it doesn't mean what they think it means."

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Dealers and dual-rates often don't know what they are talking about.

How did they say you were supposed to state that you are still thinking and have not checked, in order to preserve your right to act on your hand?