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
Retail sales jumped and car sales surged in March as consumers tried to beat the clock on tariffs.
—
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025
The Wild got a power play with less than two minutes remaining and beat the clock to take a three-goal lead.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2025
After a review, the refs ruled there was no interference and the goal beat the clock.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for beat the clock
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Matt Egan, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025
The Wild got a power play with less than two minutes remaining and beat the clock to take a three-goal lead.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2025
After a review, the refs ruled there was no interference and the goal beat the clock.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for 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 22 May. 2025.
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