against\ the\ clock

against\ the\ clock
• against time
• against the clock
adv. phr.
1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit.

John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against.

2. As fast as possible; so as to do or finish something before a certain time.

It was a race against the clock whether the doctor would get to the accident soon enough to save the injured man.

3. So as to cause delay by using up time.

The outlaw talked against time with the sheriff, hoping that his gang would come and rescue him.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • against the clock — See: AGAINST TIME …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • against the clock — See: AGAINST TIME …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • against the clock — If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • against the clock — adverb as fast as possible; before a deadline it was a race against the clock • Syn: ↑against time * * * against the clock 1 : in order to do or finish something before a particular time On our last project, we were working/racing against the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • against the clock —    If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it.     They are working… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • against the clock — phrasal 1. with or within a time constraint < working against the clock > 2. with clocked speed rather than the order of finish as the criterion for placement < trial races against the clock > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • against the clock — 1) trying very hard to finish something before a particular time Staff are working against the clock to meet the deadline. 2) if you run, swim etc against the clock, you are running, swimming etc for a particular distance as fast as possible …   English dictionary

  • race against the clock — in sport, if people race against the clock, they try to race faster than a particular time instead of racing against other people. In time trials, cyclists race against the clock …   New idioms dictionary

  • work against the clock — to work very fast because you know you only have a limited period of time to do something. Scientists were working against the clock to collect specimens before the volcano erupted again …   New idioms dictionary

  • race against the clock — race against time/the clock a race against time/the clock an attempt to do something very quickly because there is only a short time in which it can be done. Rescuers were racing against time last night to reach the four divers, trapped 200 feet… …   New idioms dictionary

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