a race against time
/ə ˌreɪs əɡenst ˈtaɪm/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
an urgent effort to finish before a deadline
Examples
- 1Getting all the invitations printed before Friday became a race against time.
- 2With the tide rising, carrying our picnic things off the beach was a race against time.
- 3With five minutes left and dozens of boxes unpacked, setting up the stall was a race against time.
- 4Saving the melting ice sculptures before the cooling system failed became a race against time.
- 5The ferry would leave in twenty minutes; collecting our scattered luggage was a race against time.
Grammar
A noun phrase, often after be. Use to plus an infinitive to name the task; a race against the clock is also used.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about time
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →on the spur of the momentsuddenly, without having planned beforehandlose track of timeto stop noticing how much time has passedhave time on your handsto have free hours with nothing that needs doingbide your timeto wait patiently for a suitable opportunity to actthe time of your lifean exceptionally enjoyable experiencein the nick of timejust before it becomes too late
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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