clock is ticking, the

Idioms  

1. The time (for something to be done) is passing quickly; hurry up. For example, The clock is ticking on that project. This allusion to a stopwatch is often used as an admonition to speed something up. It also is used in more specific form— one's biological clock is ticking —meaning that a woman may soon be too old to bear a child, as in Her biological clock is ticking—she just turned forty.

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Example Sentences

But the clock is ticking: the current bill funding the government expires at midnight Thursday, and the government will have to begin shutting down Friday if no agreement is reached.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 7, 2018

The clock is ticking: the new fiscal year starts in October.

From Scientific American • Aug. 21, 2015

The clock is ticking, the game is tense and the players are tackling each other from every side.

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2014