Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Beat the clock

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Beat the clock" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourTime, Speed, & Urgency collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Time, Speed, & Urgency

Beat the clock

Beat the clock
To finish a task, reach a goal, or complete an activity before a specific deadline or time limit expires.
History & Origin

The idiom originated in the United States during the mid-20th century, heavily popularized by the American television game show named 'Beat the Clock' which debuted in 1950. On the show, contestants had to complete quirky, physical stunts before a giant 60-second timer ran out. Over time, the phrase transitioned from the television studio into everyday English to describe rushing to hit any strict deadline.

Examples
Workplace Email

If we all focus on our assigned sections this morning, we should be able to beat the clock and submit the proposal before the 4:00 PM deadline.

Casual Conversation

We had to sprint through the terminal to beat the clock, but luckily we boarded the plane just two minutes before the gates closed.

Academic Writing

Students who fail to budget their time effectively during the examination often struggle to beat the clock, leaving the final essay questions incomplete.

News/Media

The rescue team managed to beat the clock, extracting the trapped hikers just hours before the severe blizzard blanketed the mountain pass.

Formal Speech

In the fast-paced world of global logistics, our primary mission is to consistently beat the clock, ensuring that supply chains remain uninterrupted.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. The chef decided to beat the clock by adding more sugar to the recipe to improve its flavor.

B. Despite starting the project late, the development team worked through the night to beat the clock and launch the app on time.

C. When the alarm went off at 6:00 AM, he reached out his hand to beat the clock so he could sleep for ten more minutes.

D. She wanted to beat the clock to see if the antique store had any rare watches for sale.