against the clock
/əˌɡenst ðə ˈklɒk/NEUTRAL · B2
Meaning
hurrying to finish before a deadline
Examples
- 1With the exhibition opening in an hour, we worked against the clock to hang the last paintings.
- 2The bakers were racing against the clock to finish the cake before the guests arrived.
- 3Only ten minutes remained; we worked against the clock to upload the application before submissions closed.
- 4The printer broke an hour before collection, leaving us working against the clock to finish the posters.
- 5With the removal van due at noon, we were packing against the clock all morning.
Grammar
Often follows work or race. Keep against the clock fixed; against time is also used.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about time
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →at the crack of dawnvery early in the morning as daylight beginsin the long runeventually, when considering effects over a lengthy periodfor the time beingtemporarily, until the situation changesfrom time to timeoccasionally, without a regular patternbehind the timesold-fashioned and unaware of modern developmentsahead of your timemore innovative than most people of your period
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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