Phrase guide

against the clock

prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In a time-restricted manner, to meet a deadline, hurriedly, timed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

as fast as possible; before a deadline

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it was a race against the clock

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: against time

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: ضِدَّ السَّاعَة (ḍidda s-sāʕa) — in a time-restricted manner
  • Estonian: ajaga võidu — in a time-restricted manner
  • Finnish: kilpaa ajan kanssa — in a time-restricted manner
  • French: contre la montre — in a time-restricted manner
  • Indonesian: berpacu dengan waktu — in a time-restricted manner
  • Italian: contro il tempo — in a time-restricted manner
  • Polish: walczyć z czasem — in a time-restricted manner
  • Portuguese: contra o relógio — in a time-restricted manner
  • Romanian: contra timp — in a time-restricted manner
  • Russian: торопи́ться (toropítʹsja) — in a time-restricted manner
  • Spanish: contra reloj — in a time-restricted manner
  • Spanish: contra el reloj — in a time-restricted manner
  • Spanish: contrarreloj — in a time-restricted manner