Running out of time
Meaning
To have very little time left before a deadline or event, often causing a sense of urgency.
Origin
The phrase 'running out of time' stems from a deeply ingrained, almost primal understanding of life's relentless pace and finite nature. Picture an ancient footrace where a runner, nearing the finish line, feels the energy draining, the seconds slipping by, and the metaphorical 'time' of their endurance rapidly depleting. Or consider the simple act of a candle burning down, its flame 'running' through the wax until it's extinguished. This vivid imagery of a diminishing resource, whether physical or temporal, gradually coalesced into the common idiom. It’s not about a single event, but a universal human experience, capturing the anxiety and urgency of impending deadlines and the inevitable march towards a conclusion, much like sand cascading through an hourglass, perpetually 'running out'.
Examples
- We are running out of time to submit the project proposal; it's due in an hour.
- The rescue team was running out of time before the tide came in and submerged the stranded vehicle.