recover lost time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recover lost time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the need to make up for time that has been wasted or lost, often in a work or project context. Example: "After the delays in the project, we need to implement a new strategy to recover lost time and meet our deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And what drives the journey is not scientific curiosity but regret and desire, the longing to recover lost time and know ourselves for the first time.

The New York Times - Magazine

If someone helps recover lost time, they get a bonus.

Forbes

"You can recover lost time on the job -- but not in your children's lives".

Huffington Post

We need then to recover lost time: the Commission and the Council should draw up a global action programme for a common foreign and security policy with Latin America.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Party officials also tried, unsuccessfully, to recover lost television time, by urging networks to expand evening coverage, which would have captured Mr. Bush's speech.

The New York Times

"We'll be trying to recover lost readiness at the same time that we're trying to reshape the force.

The New York Times

Those rows are useless to recover lost packets, since each row is able to recover just one lost packet.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Mr Yomono said: "I believe he desperately wanted to recover the lost time and escape punishment.

The Guardian

One example is a project in Trenton to turn a two-lane stretch of Route 29 into a four-lane road, which is costing commuters roughly 10 minutes a day; a transit advocacy group using the state's estimates calculated that a daily commuter will begin to recover the lost time in 2012.

The New York Times

One example is a project in Trenton to turn a two-lane stretch of Route 29 into a four-lane road, which is costing commuters roughly 10 minutes a day; a transit advocacy group using the state's estimates calculated that a daily commuter would begin to recover the lost time in 2012.

The New York Times

Many smaller funds, meanwhile, will have fewer options and some once-popular companies implicated in the trading investigations, like Putnam Investments and the Janus Capital Group, may have a hard time recovering lost ground.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "recover lost time" in a project or schedule, identify the critical tasks and prioritize them to maximize efficiency. Focus on streamlining processes and eliminating non-essential activities.

Common error

Avoid compensating for lost time by creating unrealistic deadlines or overloading team members. This can lead to decreased quality and increased stress, ultimately hindering the effort to "recover lost time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recover lost time" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action to compensate for past delays. It often implies a proactive effort to mitigate the negative impact of time that has been wasted or unproductive. Ludwig examples showcase its use in contexts ranging from project management to personal development.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "recover lost time" is grammatically correct and functions as a verb phrase, primarily used to express the need to compensate for delays or wasted time. Ludwig AI identifies its usage as relatively rare, with examples found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. The phrase carries a neutral tone and serves to motivate action towards mitigating the impact of lost time. Synonyms include "recoup lost time" and "make up for lost time". It's important to avoid over-optimistic scheduling when attempting to "recover lost time", as this can lead to decreased quality and increased stress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recoup lost time

Replaces "recover" with "recoup", suggesting a regaining of something lost, often in a financial or effort-based context.

regain lost time

Substitutes "recover" with "regain", emphasizing a return to a previous state or possession of time.

make up for lost time

Offers a more informal and common way to express compensating for time that was wasted or missed.

catch up on lost time

Implies an effort to reach the level or pace that was previously missed due to the lost time.

reclaim lost time

Suggests taking back time that was previously unavailable or unproductive, emphasizing the act of claiming it back.

retrieve lost time

Focuses on finding and bringing back time that was previously unavailable or unproductive.

get back on track

A more general phrase that suggests returning to the intended course of action after a delay or setback, applicable when time has been lost.

offset the delay

Addresses the impact of the lost time, focusing on the action of balancing out the lateness.

accelerate the schedule

Indicates speeding up the processes to compensate for the lost time.

expedite progress

Suggests speeding up the advancement of a project to compensate for the delay.

FAQs

What does it mean to "recover lost time"?

To "recover lost time" means to make up for delays or wasted time, typically by working more efficiently or prioritizing tasks to meet original deadlines or goals.

What are some strategies to "recover lost time" in a project?

Strategies include prioritizing critical tasks, streamlining processes, eliminating non-essential activities, and reallocating resources. Using alternatives such as "make up for lost time" or "catch up on lost time" can also help refocus efforts.

Is it always possible to "recover lost time"?

While it's often possible to mitigate the impact of lost time, completely recovering it depends on the nature of the delay, available resources, and flexibility of the project timeline. Consider if "offset the delay" is enough.

What are some common synonyms for "recover lost time"?

Common synonyms include "recoup lost time", "regain lost time", "make up for lost time", and "catch up on lost time". The best choice depends on the specific context.