beat the clock

The idiom "beat the clock" originates from early 20th-century game shows where contestants had to finish tasks before a buzzer sounded.

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Definition

B2General

(common)To finish a task before a deadline.

Example

They worked overtime to beat the clock and submit the project on time.
She managed to beat the clock and complete the exam with minutes to spare.

B2General

(informal)To accomplish something faster than expected.

Example

We need to beat the clock if we want to catch the last train.

C1Health

(informal)To maintain youthfulness and good health over a long period.

Example

With a healthy lifestyle, you can beat the clock and stay fit well into old age.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "beat the clock":

beat someone's time on the clock ticking clock stop someone's clock milk the clock clock on clock in keep time clock onto against time beat out time control shot clock make good time time check put the clock back wall clock keep good time make time beat the dust beat on bracket clock pulsar clock tell time clock up beat feet man versus time out of time