counting down the seconds until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counting down the seconds until" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe someone or something that is eagerly awaiting a certain moment or event. For example, "The crowd was counting down the seconds until the fireworks display began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But I am just counting down the seconds until it's finished".

The Guardian - Opinion

Click on to the Houston Texans' Web site and you will see a clock counting down the seconds until the N.F.L. draft begins April 29.

The New York Times

— It is April 9 just before midnight in the war room of Netflix's headquarters here, where the smell of popcorn fills the air and a team of engineers, social media experts and other specialists starts counting down the seconds until the new "Daredevil" superhero series goes live on the streaming service.

The New York Times

The Kingdom is literally counting down the seconds until Air Force One touches down in Riyadh.

HuffPost

As I sit elbow-deep in papers, projects and exams that are all due within the next week, saying I'm counting down the seconds until the end of the semester is the understatement of the year.

Huffington Post

However the problem for Chelsea was that whenever Ramires won possession and charged forward, you found yourself counting down the seconds until he lost the ball, which made life much easier than it should have been for City.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And for years, friends tried to convince Bianca Rutigliano, who tends bar near Union Square, that the clock was counting down the seconds remaining until the end of the world.

The New York Times

I'm counting down the minutes until 10 30pm when I get my first full look at Lob City.

The Guardian - Sport

In Trafalgar Square there is a big clock counting down the days, minutes and seconds until the opening of the Olympic Games.

The Guardian

I've been counting down the minutes until the race.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm counting down the days until the expo opens.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "counting down the seconds until" to effectively convey a strong sense of anticipation and immediacy. It's best suited for situations where the event being awaited is imminent.

Common error

Avoid using "counting down the seconds until" for events that are far in the future. It's more appropriate for events happening very soon. For longer durations, phrases like "counting down the days until" are more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "counting down the seconds until" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a verbal, modifying a noun or pronoun by expressing anticipation of an imminent event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "counting down the seconds until" is a grammatically sound and expressively vivid way to communicate the anticipation of an event that is about to occur. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and usage. Predominantly found in News & Media, Formal & Business writing, this phrase excels at creating a sense of immediacy. While a potent phrase, it's essential to reserve its use for situations where brevity and high anticipation are relevant. For longer periods, consider options as "counting down the days until" or other more contextually appropriate phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can't wait for the second that

Expresses high level of excitement and impatience.

looking forward to the instant that

Similar in meaning, focuses on a specific instant.

eagerly anticipating the moment when

Emphasizes strong positive anticipation; more formal and elaborate.

impatiently awaiting the arrival of

Conveys a sense of impatience for something to happen.

anxiously awaiting the time when

Highlights anxiety or worry mixed with anticipation.

awaiting with bated breath

Emphasizes excitement and anticipation; somewhat more dramatic.

in eager anticipation of

Formal and concise way to communicate you are awaiting something

expecting the imminent occurrence of

More formal and less emotional, stresses the nearness of the event.

on the edge of my seat until

Highlights excitement and suspense about an event.

counting down the days until

Focuses on days as unit of time till something happen

FAQs

How can I use "counting down the seconds until" in a sentence?

You can use "counting down the seconds until" to express strong anticipation for something imminent. For example, "The students were counting down the seconds until summer vacation" or "The team was counting down the seconds until the championship game began".

What's a less literal alternative to "counting down the seconds until"?

If you want to express anticipation without being so literal, you could use phrases like "eagerly awaiting", "anxiously awaiting", or "looking forward to", depending on the context and the level of excitement or anxiety involved.

Is it appropriate to use "counting down the seconds until" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "counting down the seconds until" leans towards a more informal tone. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "anticipating with great interest" or "awaiting the imminent arrival of" for a more sophisticated effect.

Which is better: "counting down the days until" or "counting down the seconds until"?

The choice depends on the timeframe. Use "counting down the days until" for events that are further away. Use "counting down the seconds until" when the event is happening very soon, to convey a sense of urgency and excitement.