against the clock

Idioms  

1. Also, against time. In a great hurry, as fast as possible, as in With her term paper due on Monday, she was racing against the clock to finish it, or They were working against time to stay on schedule. The term comes from various sports in which the contestants do not directly compete against each other but instead are timed individually, the winner being the one who is fastest. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

---

Example Sentences

The rescuers worked against the clock to bring all the passengers to safety before the helicopters needed to refuel.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

"This was... a race against the clock, as it was critical that we locate the downed aviator as quickly as possible, while at the same time keeping our enemies misdirected," Ratcliffe told the news conference.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

A large digital clock appeared at the start of each episode, with bright numerals showing the current time in 24-hour format, as Bauer raced against the clock to avert disaster.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

The traditional skimo format is an individual racing against the clock, not in a cluster of competitors, and courses have elevation gains typically ranging from 1,640 to 2,300 feet.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

Above the South Col, up in the Death Zone, survival is to no small degree a race against the clock.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer