- work against the clock
- to work very fast because you know you only have a limited period of time to do something.
Scientists were working against the clock to collect specimens before the volcano erupted again.
New idioms dictionary. 2014.
work against the clock
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against the clock — adverb as fast as possible; before a deadline it was a race against the clock • Syn: ↑against time * * * against the clock 1 : in order to do or finish something before a particular time On our last project, we were working/racing against the… … Useful english dictionary
Beat the Clock — For the Sparks song, see Beat the Clock (Sparks song). Beat the Clock Genre Game show Presented by Bud Collyer (1950–1961) Jack Narz (1969–1972) … Wikipedia
clock — clock1 W3S2 [klɔk US kla:k] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Middle Dutch; Origin: clocke bell, clock , from Medieval Latin clocca bell , from a Celtic language] 1.) an instrument that shows what time it is, in a room or outside on a building ▪ The clock on … Dictionary of contemporary English
clock — 1 noun (C) 1 an instrument in a room or on a public building that shows what time it is: The clock was ticking on the mantelpiece. | the clock strikes three/half past four etc: The church clock struck midnight. | the clock says... (=the clock… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
work — I n. labor 1) to do work (they never do any work) 2) to begin; quit, stop work (they quit work at one o clock) 3) to take on work 4) to undo smb. s work 5) backbreaking, hard; delicate; demanding; dirty, scut; easy, light; exhausting, tiring;… … Combinatory dictionary
clock — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ accurate ▪ 12 hour, 24 hour ▪ digital, electric ▪ atomic ▪ … Collocations dictionary
clock — clock1 [ klak ] noun count ** an object that shows the time. The object like a clock you wear on your wrist is called a watch. Clocks either have a background called a face with hands that point to the hours and minutes, or they are digital… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
clock — [[t]klɒ̱k[/t]] ♦♦♦ clocks, clocking, clocked 1) N COUNT A clock is an instrument, for example in a room or on the outside of a building, that shows what time of day it is. He was conscious of a clock ticking... He also repairs clocks and watches … English dictionary
clock — I. /klɒk / (say klok) noun 1. an instrument for measuring and indicating time, having either pointers on a numbered dial or a digital display to show the hour, etc., and not carried on the person. Compare watch (def. 17). 2. Colloquial a piece of …
clock — 1. n. & v. n. 1 an instrument for measuring time, driven mechanically or electrically and indicating hours, minutes, etc., by hands on a dial or by displayed figures. 2 a any measuring device resembling a clock. b colloq. a speedometer, taximeter … Useful english dictionary
