against the clock
uh-GENST the CLOCK
/əˈɡenst ðə klɒk/
In a very great hurry to finish something before a deadline.
Focuses on the pressure and the process of working under a time limit.
The story behind the word. Derived from the world of competitive racing, where athletes would run 'against' the recorded time on a stopwatch rather than against other physical competitors.
Word relationships
- under pressure: 'Under pressure' is general; 'against the clock' specifically identifies time as the source of pressure.
- at one's leisure: 'At one's leisure' means doing something without any time pressure.
Commonly confused with
- beat the clock: 'Against the clock' is the struggle; 'beat the clock' is the victory.
Collocations
- working against the clock
- race against the clock
- battle against the clock
Example sentences
- "The rescue teams were working against the clock to find survivors before the storm hit." Emergency response
- "She was writing her final essay against the clock, as the submission portal was set to close at midnight." Academic pressure
Memory hook
Imagine you are pushing back the hands of a clock to give yourself more time. Fighting the ticking hands.
When not to use
Do not use if there is no specific deadline or time limit involved.
Fun facts
- In chess, players literally play against a clock that limits their thinking time.
Related words
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