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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Use common phrases for time limits, short schedules, pressure, and a work style centered on due dates.
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Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptA “deadline” is the time by which work must be completed. A “tight deadline” leaves little time. Being “under a deadline” or “on deadline” means working with a due date approaching, while something “hanging over your head” continues to worry you. “Deadline-driven” describes someone who works effectively toward due dates. The lesson focuses on present-day usage and treats the article’s Civil War etymology cautiously.
Cultural note: A deadline can create real pressure, but people’s responses to time limits differ. “Deadline-driven” may be useful in a résumé when it is accurate, but it should not imply that overwork is desirable. The article’s historical origin narrative is presented as its account, not independently verified here; this lesson teaches contemporary usage rather than asserting the origin as settled fact.
Keep exploringEnglish has several ways to describe how a due date feels—and how much time is left to meet it.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Name a due date and distinguish an ordinary from a short time window.
Meaning
A due date that leaves very little time to complete the work.
Tone & use
Common at school and work. If the time is not enough, say so and discuss scope or priorities.
Example
“The team received a tight deadline, so they agreed which parts of the report were essential.”
Meaning
Working while a due date limits the available time.
Tone & use
Often used with “work” or “be”; the deadline may create pressure.
Example
“Because she was under a deadline, she postponed nonessential edits until the next day.”
Describe the feeling of an unfinished responsibility.
Meaning
Working to finish something by a required due date.
Tone & use
Common in journalism and other deadline-based work; “working toward a deadline” is more broadly clear.
Example
“The editor was on deadline and asked to move the meeting to the afternoon.”
Meaning
A due date that remains a source of worry or pressure.
Tone & use
Figurative; it emphasizes mental pressure, not a literal threat.
Example
“With the application deadline hanging over her head, she set aside an hour each evening to finish it.”
Describe a person’s work style without praising overwork.
Meaning
Motivated or organized around meeting deadlines.
Tone & use
Often used in workplace descriptions. Be accurate; it does not mean someone should accept unreasonable workloads.
Example
“He described himself as deadline-driven and gave an example of completing a project on schedule.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
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