work against the clock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work against the clock" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to work quickly in order to complete something before a specified deadline. For example, "I have to work against the clock to finish this project by the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

After the final performance, on a Saturday, carpenters will work against the clock to restore St George's to its original state – ready for service on Sunday morning.

The Guardian

Some New York City teachers report a renewed rigor in study hall, where students work against the clock to finish their night's assignments.

The New York Times

I set a high standard of what I hand in and I put that down to never having to work against the clock.

The Guardian

There are only a handful of companies who specialise in tracing missing heirs or the heirs of people who died intestate; they generally work against the clock competing with others to find missing relatives.

The Guardian

A crowd has gathered at the Nailympics in London, straining against a rope to watch some of the world's best nail technicians work against the clock in the fantasy competition.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

While public servants and examiners work against the clock to deliver the government's three new academic diplomas on top of the original 14 vocational lines of learning, AQA, one of the three exam groups in England, has quietly gained accreditation for its own version.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Big Miracle" gets off to a shaky start, but once revved up, it becomes an involving work-against-the-clock-and-the-odds action movie.

The New York Times

The film "gets off to a shaky start, but once revved up it becomes an involving work-against-the-clock-and-the-odds action movie," Rachel Saltz wrote in The New York Times in February.

The New York Times

She was working against the clock.

The New York Times

"I'm totally working against the clock.

The New York Times

Aid agencies in Badakhshan are working against the clock to save lives.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "work against the clock" to describe situations where speed and efficiency are crucial due to an impending deadline or critical event. For example, 'The rescue team had to work against the clock to find survivors after the earthquake.'

Common error

Avoid using "work against the clock" interchangeably with phrases like "work around the clock". The former implies a race to meet a deadline, while the latter means working continuously without stopping.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work against the clock" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase signifies the urgency and time pressure involved in completing a task before a deadline. Examples show it describing rescuers, production teams, and construction crews.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work against the clock" is a verbal phrase signifying the urgency to complete a task before a deadline. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general acceptance in written English. It's frequently found in contexts related to News & Media, Science and Formal & Business. While similar phrases like "race against time" and "rush to completion" exist, "work against the clock" uniquely emphasizes the effort under a strict schedule. To avoid common errors, it should not be confused with "work around the clock", which suggests continuous work without stopping.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Race against time

Focuses on the competitive aspect of trying to meet a deadline.

Hustle to meet the deadline

Emphasizes the need for quick and energetic action to complete something on time.

Rush to completion

Highlights the speed and urgency in finishing a task.

Work under pressure

Focuses on the stress and demands of working with a tight deadline.

Strive against the deadline

Emphasizes the effort and determination required to finish something on time.

Be pressed for time

Highlights the lack of available time.

Operating under a time crunch

Emphasizes a stressful situation caused by the scarcity of time

Against a tight schedule

Highlights the challenges of working within a limited timeframe.

Fighting the sands of time

Emphasizes the constant and relentless nature of the passing of time.

On a short fuse

Highlights that there is very little margin for error.

FAQs

How can I use "work against the clock" in a sentence?

You can use "work against the clock" to describe situations where people are rushing to complete a task before a deadline, such as "The construction crew had to "work against the clock" to finish the bridge before the rainy season began."

What does "work against the clock" mean?

The phrase "work against the clock" means to rush and put in a lot of effort in order to complete a task before the limited time runs out.

What is a similar phrase to "work against the clock"?

Similar phrases include "race against time", "hustle to meet the deadline", or "rush to completion", which all convey the idea of needing to hurry in order to finish something on time.

Is it correct to say "working against the clock"?

Yes, "working against the clock" is a grammatically correct and commonly used variation of "work against the clock". Both are appropriate depending on the sentence's tense and context.