beat the clock
To take action or finish a task before a deadline. We have to get these pages to the printer by 8, so work faster, people—we've got to beat the clock! Somehow, they were able to beat the clock and get to their seats before the bride walked down the aisle. Do you think there's any hope we'll beat the clock and get this submitted to the review board in time?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
beat the clock
Fig. to do something before a deadline; to finish before the time is up. (Alludes to accomplishing something before a clock reaches a specific time.) Sam beat the clock, arriving a few minutes before the doors were locked. They were afraid they would be late and hurried in order to beat the clock.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
beat the clock
Finish something or succeed before time is up, as in The paper went to press at five o'clock, and they hurried to beat the clock. The term comes from various sports or races in which contestants compete within a certain time limit.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
beat the clock
perform a task quickly or within a fixed time limit.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
beat the ˈclock
finish a task, race, etc. before a particular timeFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017