beat the clock
idiom
: to do or finish something quickly before a particular time
In a desperate attempt to beat the clock, I raced to mail my tax return before midnight.
Examples of beat the clock in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Advertisement After deadline-day trade talks with the Chicago White Sox over Garrett Crochet stalled, general manager Brandon Gomes was on the phone with the Detroit Tigers up until the deadline’s final moments, working a package that barely beat the clock before being finalized.
—
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Even as workers at Cape Canaveral frantically tried to beat the clock, more work had to happen at the Johnson Space Center in Houston: Atlantis still needed a crew.
—Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2023
For this summery supper, grill steak, corn, and peppers simultaneously to beat the clock.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2023
Start with a 30-second warmup, then try to beat the clock by finishing all those reps. Perform each movement for 10 reps, then 9, then 8, all the way down to 1 rep, alternating between exercises.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 8 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for beat the clock 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Even as workers at Cape Canaveral frantically tried to beat the clock, more work had to happen at the Johnson Space Center in Houston: Atlantis still needed a crew.
—Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2023
For this summery supper, grill steak, corn, and peppers simultaneously to beat the clock.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2023
Start with a 30-second warmup, then try to beat the clock by finishing all those reps. Perform each movement for 10 reps, then 9, then 8, all the way down to 1 rep, alternating between exercises.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 8 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for beat the clock
Dictionary Entries Near beat the clock
Cite this Entry
“Beat the clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beat%20the%20clock. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share