against time

against time
adverb
as fast as possible; before a deadline
-

it was a race against the clock

• Syn: ↑against the clock

* * *

adverb
1. : in an attempt to approach, equal, or surpass a record or a previously recorded time

they raced, not against each other, but against time

2. : in an effort to complete an action before a certain time

he wrote the essay hurriedly, as if against time

were working against time to repair the levees

3. : with the intention of effecting a delay by using up time

the legislator was merely talking against time

* * *

against time
With the aim or necessity of finishing by a certain time
• • •
Main Entry: ↑time

* * *

against time phrase
if you do something against time, you have to do it quickly because you are not sure that you will have enough time to do it

They’ll be working against time to get it finished.

a race against time (=a situation in which you do not have enough time to do something):

All these high-profile building projects turn into a race against time.

Thesaurus: quicklysynonym
Main entry: time

* * *

with utmost speed, so as to finish by a specified time

he was working against time

* * *

against time
◇ If you are racing/working (etc.) against time or are in a race against time, you are doing something quickly because you have only a small amount of time.

We're working against time to finish this book.

They raced against time to get her to the hospital.

It was a race against time to find a cure for the disease.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑time

* * *

against ˈtime idiom
if you do sth against time, you do it as fast as you can because you do not have much time

•

They're working against time to try and get people out of the rubble alive.

Main entry: ↑timeidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • against\ time — • against time • against the clock adv. phr. 1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against. 2. As fast as possible; so as to do… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • against time — ► if you do something against time, you have to work very hard to finish it by the agreed time or date: »We are working against time to get the stadium finished for the opening ceremony. a race/battle/fight against time »The race against time to… …   Financial and business terms

  • against time — or[against the clock] {adv. phr.} 1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. * /John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against./ 2. As fast as possible; so as to do or… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • against time — or[against the clock] {adv. phr.} 1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. * /John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against./ 2. As fast as possible; so as to do or… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • against time — if you do something against time, you have to do it quickly because you are not sure that you will have enough time to do it They ll be working against time to get it finished. a race against time (= a situation in which you do not have enough… …   English dictionary

  • against time — 1. adjective Measured relative to a deadline rather than a competitor. 2. adverb With urgency, being aware that the time available to do something may be insufficient. Syn: against the clock, urgently …   Wiktionary

  • To go against time — Time Time, n.; pl. {Times}. [OE. time, AS. t[=i]ma, akin to t[=i]d time, and to Icel. t[=i]mi, Dan. time an hour, Sw. timme. [root]58. See {Tide}, n.] 1. Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To move against time — Time Time, n.; pl. {Times}. [OE. time, AS. t[=i]ma, akin to t[=i]d time, and to Icel. t[=i]mi, Dan. time an hour, Sw. timme. [root]58. See {Tide}, n.] 1. Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To run against time — Time Time, n.; pl. {Times}. [OE. time, AS. t[=i]ma, akin to t[=i]d time, and to Icel. t[=i]mi, Dan. time an hour, Sw. timme. [root]58. See {Tide}, n.] 1. Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • against time — racing to get something done before it is too late …   English contemporary dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”