pressed for time
1
having very little time left
The idiom "pressed for time" is believed to have originated in the 19th century, and it refers to a situation where someone is under pressure to complete a task or meet a deadline and does not have enough time to do so. It is used to describe a situation where someone is in a hurry or has a limited amount of time to complete a task. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- I'm sorry, I can't stay and chat for long.I'm pressed for time and I have to get to my next meeting.
- If we don't start working on this project soon, we'll be pressed for time and won't be able to finish it before the deadline.
- perfect tense: She has been pressed for time lately because she's been working on a big project at work.
- Yesterday, I was really pressed for time, so I had to skip lunch to finish my work on time.