When a task needs to be done urgently, it is said to be against time. Synonyms for this phrase include "race against time," "beat the clock," "moving against the clock," and "working under a time crunch." When you have a deadline to meet, you may feel like you're battling against time itself. Other synonyms for the phrase can include "running out of time," "scrambling to finish," and "fighting the ticking clock." No matter how you phrase it, however, the idea is the same: you're trying to complete a task before time runs out. Whether it's a project at work or a personal goal, the pressure to finish quickly can be intense.