seconds to spare

USAGE SUMMARY

"seconds to spare" is a perfectly acceptable and usable expression in written English.
It generally means that there is only a limited amount of time available and it is only just enough to complete a task. For example, "I managed to finish my project just in the nick of time with only a few seconds to spare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Three seconds to spare.

The New York Times - Magazine

He turned away, with only seconds to spare.

The New York Times - Travel

His life was saved with seconds to spare.

The Guardian - Sport

They made it with 17 seconds to spare.

The New York Times - Books

He arrived before the gate with 30 seconds to spare & found the gate locked.

The New Yorker

Someone finally hands him a crumpled copy, with about nine seconds to spare.

The New Yorker

He finished with four seconds to spare and came in third out of six finalists.

The New Yorker

They hustled on and off the stage, sometimes with more than 30 seconds to spare.

The New York Times - Sports

They made it to the appointment with only seconds to spare.

The New York Times - Tech

Eight of the survivors spoke to Fieseler; they recollect escaping a "holocaust" with only seconds to spare.

Columbia University

He finally makes it to the top of the platform – with seconds to spare – as the train zooms by.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seconds to spare" to create a sense of urgency or excitement in your writing. It's most effective when describing situations where timing is critical.

Common error

Avoid using "seconds to spare" when describing situations where there was ample time. The phrase implies a near miss or a last-minute success. Overstating the urgency can diminish the impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seconds to spare" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the timing of an action. It signifies that an action was completed with almost no time remaining, as Ludwig AI confirms with numerous examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seconds to spare" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express that something was achieved with very little time remaining. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys urgency and is widely used in news, media, and general conversation. While versatile, it should be used accurately to reflect situations where time was truly limited. Consider alternatives like ""just in the nick of time"" or "barely made it" to fine-tune the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just in the nick of time

Focuses on the narrow escape from being too late.

barely made it

Highlights the difficulty and closeness of success.

with no time to waste

Emphasizes the urgency and lack of buffer time.

at the last possible moment

Points to the event happening right before the deadline.

with little time remaining

Indicates a small amount of time left before a deadline or event.

with time running out

Stresses the dwindling time available.

squeezed in just before the deadline

Implies fitting something in right at the cutoff.

scraped in by the skin of one's teeth

Suggests a very close and perhaps lucky success.

narrowly avoided being late

Highlights the avoidance of lateness as the primary outcome.

almost missed the deadline

Focuses on the near miss of failing to meet a deadline.

FAQs

How can I use "seconds to spare" in a sentence?

You can use "seconds to spare" to describe a situation where something was accomplished just before a deadline or critical moment. For example, "The team finished the project with only "just in the nick of time".".

What's an alternative to saying "seconds to spare"?

Alternatives include ""just in the nick of time"", "barely made it", or "at the last possible moment", all of which convey the idea of accomplishing something with very little time remaining.

Is it correct to say "minutes to spare" instead of "seconds to spare"?

Yes, you can use "minutes to spare" if the time remaining is more than a few seconds, but less than a significant amount of time. It depends on the specific context and the degree of urgency you want to convey.

What's the difference between "seconds to spare" and "time to spare"?

"Seconds to spare" implies a very limited amount of time, suggesting a close call or a last-minute achievement. "Time to spare" indicates having more than enough time, or some extra time available.