against the clock

In a very limited amount of time; with a shortage of time being the main problem. We left later than we were supposed to, so it was a race against the clock to get to the airport on time.

Fig. in a race with time; in a great hurry to get something done before a particular time. In a race against the clock, they rushed the accident victim to the hospital.

Also, against time. In a great hurry, as fast as possible, as in With her term paper due on Monday, she was racing against the clock to finish it, or They were working against time to stay on schedule. The term comes from various sports in which the contestants do not directly compete against each other but instead are timed individually, the winner being the one who is fastest. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.