Against the clock
English Idiom
Meaning: When someone is working with a very tight deadline and needs to complete a task as quickly as possible, they are said to be working against the clock. It often involves a sense of urgency and the pressure to finish within a limited timeframe.
Origin: The idiom 'against the clock' originates from the world of sports, particularly racing sports like track and field, where athletes compete to achieve the best time. The expression has since been adopted into everyday language to describe situations where there's a race to finish a task before a deadline.
Examples
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The team worked against the clock to submit the project proposal before the 5 PM deadline.
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With the final exam approaching, students were studying against the clock to cover the entire syllabus.
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The engineers were racing against the clock to fix the software bug before the product launch.
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She was cooking against the clock to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner before the guests arrived.
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The firefighters fought against the clock to control the blaze before it spread to nearby homes.
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In the newsroom, journalists often write their articles against the clock to meet publication deadlines.
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The construction crew worked against the clock to finish the building before the harsh winter set in.
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During the hackathon, developers coded against the clock to create innovative solutions within 24 hours.
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The medical team operated against the clock to save the accident victim's life.
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The event organizers were planning against the clock to ensure everything was perfect for the grand opening.
