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Glite Dictionary
time is ticking

time is ticking

1 5.4
A warning that little time remains to finish something
  • idiom
  • Informal
: el tiempo corre
  • It isn't too late for the Republican Party to jump on board, but time is ticking.

I have so much work to do, like time is ticking, Time is money, so I better get to it.

Examples

  • We have only a few minutes left to make our decision; time is ticking.

  • I have so much work to do, like time is ticking, Time is money, so I better get to it.

    NikkieTutorials

  • The truth is, time is ticking.

    Blog text (5)

  • Your time is ticking, with only 3 more days.

    Blog text (5)

  • OK, so but you, your, you and your time frame time is ticking just like normal for you.

  • Joshua needs to get the hell out since they made it clear his time is ticking!

    Blog text (16)

  • Time is ticking down.

    Saw 3D (2010)

  • If we want to complete the project on time, we need to hurry because time is ticking.

  • Before the deadline arrives, remember that time is ticking to submit your application.

Synonyms

to fly by
vstime is ticking
23 3.3

To seem to pass very quickly, especially time

highlights passing time with urgency and an approaching deadline rather than quickness
to elapse
vstime is ticking
19 5.1

Time passes without being noticed

signals urgent passing with a deadline rather than unnoticed passage
the clock is ticking
vstime is ticking
  • Informal
1 4.4

There is only a short time left to do something

is the same idea but used more generally to stress approaching deadlines

Antonyms

to take one's time
3.5

To do something slowly and carefully without hurrying

How Urgent

outta time
  • Informal
1 9.1
time is ticking
  • Informal
1 5.4

Surface Forms

time is ticking main

Morphology

time + be + ticking

The phrase maps directly onto a simple metaphor: 'ticking' evokes a clock sound, so 'time is ticking' transparently signals that time is passing and often implies urgency. This meaning is compositionally derivable from the constituents and mirrors a common cross-linguistic metaphor, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the intended sense.

Etymology

Time is ticking comes from the small 'tick' sound a clock makes, and when a clock is ticking each sound marks a second passing. That's why people say it to warn that 'time is running out' or a deadline is near.