when the contract is up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when the contract is up" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to the time when a contract expires or ends. Example: "We can renegotiate the terms when the contract is up." Alternative expressions include "when the contract expires" and "when the contract ends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

On the other hand, an OEM that retains a CM may find itself immersed in a melodrama replete with promiscuity (the ambitious CM pursues liaisons with other OEMs), infidelity (the OEM's retailers and distributors shift their business to the upstart CM), and betrayal (the brazen CM transmits the OEM's intellectual property to the OEM's rivals or keeps it for itself when the contract is up).

Harvard Business Review

Having a major stake in the company can make the negotiating process one-sided when the contract is up for renewal.

TechCrunch

Because clearly Seoul could look over at your team and say, we'd love to have that guy, maybe we can make friends and pull him over when the contract is up.

Forbes

Also, when the contract is up (normally one to three years), hospitals are required to bid again, making it difficult for the outsourcing companies to consistently provide high quality service.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

When the contract was up for renewal at the board's June meeting last year, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott, who also sits on the tollway agency's board of directors, said the team of consultants was being paid a "pretty sizable sum" but had failed to quell opposition to the 241 extension.

Los Angeles Times

"We will explore that at the end of the year when the contracts are up," said Wilpon, who was at training camp today.

The New York Times - Sports

CBS currently licenses a huge chunk of their programming both past and present to Hulu, an arrangement you can expect to end when that contract is up.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

For companies, meanwhile, looking at existing contracts can help firms to decide if they want to bid when that contract is up for renewal, and provides information that will allow them to put together a cheaper, better bid.

The Guardian

Mitchell said employees contributions to the cost of their pensions may come up in June 2014 when the current contract is up for review.

Los Angeles Times

When the Manchester contract is up in 2014, I expect at least a three-way tussle to stage Magic between the three arenas to have already sampled it, while there was also interest from Ireland before the Etihad deal was signed.

BBC

When that contract was up, he sewed a pretty dress at home in Beachwood Canyon — a frothy short prairie-style dress with full sleeves — and posted it to his Instagram account.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In strictly legal drafting or formal contracts, prefer the verb "expires" for greater precision.

Common error

Do not use "when the contract is up" if the contract is being ended prematurely due to a breach or mutual agreement. In those cases, use phrases like "upon early termination" to avoid ambiguity regarding why the contract is ending.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when the contract is up" functions as a temporal adverbial clause. It specifies the exact time at which a certain condition or action (such as renegotiation or bidding) will take place. In this structure, the word "up" acts as a predicate adjective meaning 'finished' or 'expired', which Ludwig AI confirms as a standard idiomatic usage in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when the contract is up" is a widely accepted and grammatically correct expression used to denote the expiration of an agreement. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most prevalent in journalistic and business contexts, where it serves as a clear marker for temporal deadlines. While it is highly versatile, writers seeking the highest level of formality might opt for "when the contract expires". Overall, it is a reliable choice for any professional writing that needs to address the conclusion of a fixed-term arrangement without sounding overly stiff or legalistic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when the contract expires

Uses a more formal and legally precise verb

at the expiration of the contract

A nominalized version that is highly common in legal documents

when the agreement ends

Uses 'agreement' as a broader synonym for contract

at the conclusion of the contract

Formal phrasing often used in academic or high-level business reports

at the end of the term

Focuses on the specific duration period defined in the document

when the contract runs out

A more idiomatic and slightly more casual phrasal verb

upon contract termination

Much more formal and often implies an active ending rather than a natural lapse

as the contract lapses

Suggests a passive end due to the passage of time

once the deal concludes

More informal and common in business negotiations or sports media

when the contract is finished

Simple and direct but less common in professional writing

FAQs

Is it correct to say "when the contract is up"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is a standard idiomatic way to describe an agreement reaching its end date. For a more formal tone, you might use "when the contract expires".

What is the difference between "is up" and "is over"?

While both mean finished, "up" is more commonly used for scheduled time limits or deadlines (like a contract or a timer), whereas "is over" is more general and can apply to events like a meeting or a movie.

Can I use this phrase in a formal business email?

Yes, it is widely used in "professional" settings. For example, "We can discuss new terms when the contract is up" is appropriate for business communication.

What can I say instead of "when the contract is up"?

You can use alternatives like "at the end of the term", "upon expiration" or "when the agreement concludes".