advancing the clock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "advancing the clock" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing the act of moving time forward or making progress in a situation. Example: "By implementing these new policies, we are effectively advancing the clock on our project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Switching off all the autosave mechanisms also helps, and oddly 'waiting' (ie, advancing the clock) in the same area will sometimes reduce the file size a little.

The Guardian - Tech

However, Congress isn't advancing the clock by much.

Forbes

Trump's comments on nuclear arms and climate issues were among the factors the group took into consideration in advancing the clock this year.

Huffington Post

If an initiative is approved by voters, the Legislature would be given the power, with a two-thirds vote, to initiate an end to the practice of advancing the clock by one hour on the second Sunday each March, and moving the clock hands back an hour on the first Sunday in November.

Los Angeles Times

Belgium observes Summer Time or Daylight-Saving Time by advancing the clock one hour on the last Sunday in March.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

She said: "Advancing the clocks would be a one-off administrative change and would save energy in all succeeding years.

The Guardian

In 1909 the British House of Commons rejected a bill to advance the clock by one hour in the spring and return to Greenwich Mean Time in the autumn.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet Mr. Chalabi's arrival in New York with a delegation determined to advance the clock on sovereignty puts him and the interim government he heads in direct confrontation with Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

"But by injecting water into the faults and pressurizing them, we've advanced the clock and made them occur today". Moreover, because pressure from the wastewater injection is spreading throughout the Arbuckle formation, it can affect faults located far from well sites, creating the observed time delay.

Stanford University

The current threat of nuclear war amply justifies their January 2015 decision to advance the clock two minutes toward midnight.

Huffington Post

In an effort to conserve the fuel needed to produce electric power, Germany and Austria took the initiative to advance the clock an hour at 11 p.m. on Apr. 30, 1916, until the following October.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "advancing the clock" when you want to convey a sense of speeding up a process or moving towards a future state more quickly. Make sure the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to literal time or a metaphorical timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "advancing the clock" in contexts where it could be misunderstood as simply adjusting a timepiece, especially if you intend a metaphorical meaning such as accelerating a project. Clarify your intent to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "advancing the clock" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often used metaphorically to describe the act of accelerating progress or moving towards a goal more quickly. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "advancing the clock" is a grammatically correct and relatively rare expression that is often used metaphorically to describe speeding up progress or moving towards a goal more quickly. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase appears in various contexts, most commonly in News & Media. While the usage is relatively straightforward, it's important to ensure clarity and avoid confusion between literal and figurative meanings. When needing alternatives, phrases like "moving the clock forward" or "speeding up the timeline" can be suitable replacements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moving the clock forward

Focuses on the physical act of adjusting a timepiece to a later time.

setting the clock ahead

Emphasizes the action of configuring a clock to a future time.

pushing time forward

Highlights the concept of temporal progression in a more abstract sense.

speeding up the timeline

Implies accelerating events or processes to meet earlier deadlines.

accelerating the schedule

Suggests expediting planned activities or deadlines.

hastening the process

Emphasizes making a procedure or development occur more quickly.

expediting the timeframe

Implies shortening the duration needed for a task or project.

moving up the deadline

Shifts a specific target date to an earlier point in time.

bringing the future closer

Represents accelerating the arrival of anticipated events or conditions.

fast-forwarding events

Suggests skipping over intervening periods to reach a later stage more rapidly.

FAQs

How can I use "advancing the clock" in a sentence?

You can use "advancing the clock" to describe making progress on a project, such as, "By implementing this new strategy, we are /s/advancing+the+clock and expect to see results sooner."

What does "advancing the clock" mean in project management?

In project management, "advancing the clock" signifies accelerating the project timeline or achieving milestones ahead of schedule, suggesting efficiency and progress.

Which is more appropriate, "advancing the clock" or "/s/moving+the+clock+forward"?

"Advancing the clock" and "moving the clock forward" are similar, but the former is often used metaphorically to describe progress, while the latter is usually literal.

When should I not use "advancing the clock"?

Avoid using "advancing the clock" when you actually mean setting a physical clock ahead for daylight saving time or a similar purpose. In those cases, be specific and say "set the clock forward."