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tick away

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tick away

[for seconds or minutes] to go by as the clock ticks. The seconds ticked away as the fateful time got closer. As time ticked away, the surgeons worked feverishly to repair the walls of Roger's heart.

See also: away, tick

tick away

v.

1. To function characteristically or well: That old car is still ticking away.

2. To be gradually depleted. Used of an interval of time: The final seconds ticked away.

See also: away, tick