Haste: English Vocabulary List

used to describe a sudden departure or a hasty retreat

"He shouted twenty-three skidoo."

"The jazz age slang twenty three skidoo was popular in the 1920s meaning to leave quickly."

to leave a place or move really fast or with haste

"We need to haul ass if we want to catch the bus."

"We need to haul ass if we want to catch the last train home tonight."

to do something very hurriedly, often used when demanding someone to move or leave quickly

"Move your ass, we are late."

"The coach shouted at the lazy player to move his ass during the important game."

as quickly as one possibly can because there is not much time available

"We are working against the clock."

"The paramedics worked against the clock to save the patient's life before it was too late."

to complete a task or achieve a goal before a deadline or a specific time limit

"We beat the clock and finished early."

"The paramedics beat the clock and arrived at the hospital just before the patient heart stopped."

to manage to do something just before the time is over

"I cut it close today."

"I always cut things close when I get ready for work in the morning, which makes me feel very stressed and anxious."

to do something more quickly in order not to be late

"We need to get a move on, or we will be late."

"We need to get a move on because the train leaves in twenty minutes and we are still at home."

to begin doing something much more quickly

"Get your ass in gear and start working."

"You need to get your ass into gear and finish your homework before the deadline."

to do something too earlier than its right time

"Don't jump the gun now."

"She jumped the gun by announcing the results before all the votes had been counted."

said as a way of asking someone to begin doing something or continue doing it faster than before

"Shake a leg, hurry!"

"Come on, shake a leg! We're going to be late for the movie if we don't leave now."

used as a warning to remind one that the time that is left for doing something is about to be over

"The clock is ticking — we need to decide now."

"With the contract expiring in forty-eight hours, the clock was ticking and both sides knew it."

to begin hurrying up or moving faster

"Get the lead out now!"

"You really need to get the lead out if you want to finish this important project before the deadline tomorrow."

used for describing a situation when there is only a little time available and one must hurry up in order to get something done

"It is a race against time to save him."

"The doctors were in a race against time to save the injured patient life."

someone who is late for getting somewhere and anxiously tries to get there

"White rabbit!" she said on the first day."

"The panicked student was a white rabbit, rushing to finish his exam."

used to say that something is done with great speed and determination

"Pedal to the metal now!"

"To make it to the airport on time, we had to drive with the pedal to the metal."