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
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
The Houston Texans beat the clock on Thursday night to add Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. as the third selection in the 88th NFL Draft.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Participants work to beat the clock, skip ahead, level up, spin the spinner and play to win while celebrating games of all kinds.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 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
Can this Alabama school beat the clock and help more students read?
—al, 10 Nov. 2021
After a furious rush to beat the clock in 2022, NHL general managers are acting early and often to jockey for the top players available or stockpile future assets in advance of the trade deadline this year.
—Stephen Whyno, ajc, 2 Mar. 2023
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
The Houston Texans beat the clock on Thursday night to add Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. as the third selection in the 88th NFL Draft.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Participants work to beat the clock, skip ahead, level up, spin the spinner and play to win while celebrating games of all kinds.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 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
Can this Alabama school beat the clock and help more students read?
—al, 10 Nov. 2021
After a furious rush to beat the clock in 2022, NHL general managers are acting early and often to jockey for the top players available or stockpile future assets in advance of the trade deadline this year.
—Stephen Whyno, ajc, 2 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beat the clock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near beat the clock
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“Beat the clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beat%20the%20clock. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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