a race against time
idiomatic phrase
variants
or a race against the clock
: a situation in which something must happen or be done quickly because little time is available
Divers pulling the 12 boys and their soccer coach from the cave were in a race against time, with the threat of rains making an already difficult rescue even more urgent.—
Richard C. Paddock and Muktita Suhartono
Richard C. Paddock and Muktita Suhartono… as everyone argued back and forth about whether to enter arbitration …, the issue of time came up. For some in the group, this was a race against the clock due to their illnesses and the need for medical treatment.—Steven Allen Bruce
Steven Allen BruceExamples of a race against time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The need to communicate turns into a race against time as the ships and their mysterious pilots trigger a global crisis that threatens to tip over into catastrophe.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2024
In today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the United States finds itself in a race against time.
—Byhoracio Rozanski, Fortune, 10 June 2024
More:Ford to drastically scale back jobs, investment plans for Marshall EV battery plant
More:UAW's push to organize workers at nonunion carmakers is a race against time
Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com and on X, previously called Twitter, @Dave_Boucher1.
—Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 10 Jan. 2024
Researchers appear to be in a race against time to more effectively treat and prevent cancer as global populations age, ramping up the pressure on health care services.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a race against time 
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2024
In today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the United States finds itself in a race against time.
—Byhoracio Rozanski, Fortune, 10 June 2024
More:Ford to drastically scale back jobs, investment plans for Marshall EV battery plant
More:UAW's push to organize workers at nonunion carmakers is a race against time
Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com and on X, previously called Twitter, @Dave_Boucher1.
—Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 10 Jan. 2024
Researchers appear to be in a race against time to more effectively treat and prevent cancer as global populations age, ramping up the pressure on health care services.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a race against time
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a race against time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“A race against time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20race%20against%20time. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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