a race against time
US /ə reɪs əˈɡɛnst taɪm/
UK /ə reɪs əˈɡɛnst taɪm/
1.
a situation in which you have to do something very quickly before it is too late
:
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Rescuers were in a race against time to find the missing hikers before nightfall.
•
Finishing the report by Friday is a race against time.