Winning English - Mastering Idioms, Slang, and References
Deadline • In a rush • Pressed for time • Time is of the essence • Grab a quick bite
We have all felt the pressure of a looming deadline, whether it’s in our personal or professional lives. If we don’t meet the deadline, it will be bad for us. Today, I focus on words and phrases for when we are running out of time!
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
A “deadline”, as you likely know, is the date and time when something must be done. However, you might not know the bloody history of the word. During the US Civil War, captured Union troops were kept in Confederate prison yards. Lines were drawn in the dirt, and if the troops crossed those lines, they were shot. That’s likely far worse than what happens to you with your deadlines!
“To run out of time” is another way to say you have reached your deadline.
By the way, deadlines are often described as “looming”, which means it is hanging over your head like a dark cloud.
Suppose you are on your way to work. You are a few minutes late. A friend sees you, stops you, and starts to talk about this past weekend. You explain, “I would love to talk, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. I hate to rush off, but I’m really pressed for time. Let’s talk later, OK?”
To be “in a hurry” means that you need to go quickly, often because you need to get to an appointment. To be “in a rush” means the same thing. Note, though, that when you have to leave quickly, the verb is “to rush off”. “To rush”, without “off”, only means to move quickly.
“To be pressed for time” is an idiom we use to say that a deadline is coming soon. To press is to push down with a lot of force. In this phrase, the deadline is pressing down on you and squeezing your time.
After talking with your friend, you get an email on your phone. A very good customer wants you to bid on a job. Great! But the customer also says, “Please note, time is of the essence.” “Well,” you think, “Now I have another deadline!”
“Time is of the essence” is a common phrase people use when they want something as soon as possible, but they want to use formal language and be polite. You will often find this phrasing in legal contracts.
You continue on your way to work. You think to yourself, “Wow, with this much work today, I had better eat breakfast. Even though I’m late, I should grab a quick bite to eat!’
Photo by Rikke Filbært on Unsplash
When we “grab a quick bite to eat”, we are usually in a hurry, so we buy food from a street cart, a café, or a fast food restaurant.
By the way, the words “quick bites” were shortened to “Quibi” and used as the name for a high-profile video entertainment company that closed recently in Hollywood.
Thanks for reading Winning English! Make sure to listen to the podcast, as well, in order to reinforce your learning. Also, please consider liking the post, and feel free to leave comments. I love to hear from readers. Talk soon!
Bill