race against time

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

a desperate hurry to finish before a deadline

Why this phrase?

Time itself is pictured as a rival runner; finishing before it wins is the only way to succeed.

Example

“It was a race against time to save the data before the crash.”

Dictionary details

Component words

time

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

crunch time Informal · CEFR B2

the final, high-pressure period before a deadline

in the nick of time Neutral · CEFR B1

at the latest moment when success is still possible

play for time Neutral · CEFR B2

to delay deliberately in order to prepare or avoid an immediate outcome

stand the test of time Neutral · CEFR B2

to remain effective, admired, or valuable over a long period

back against the wall Informal · CEFR B1

in a desperate situation with few options left

on the spot Informal · CEFR B1

immediately and at the place where something happens

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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