Against the clock

[Nasreddin]

Test No. incompl/inter-78 "Tick Tock", question 1

They're trying very hard to finish in time and they're working ......... the clock.

(a) up
(b) through
(c) on
(d) against

Test No. incompl/inter-78 "Tick Tock", answer 1

They're trying very hard to finish in time and they're working against the clock.

Correct answer: (d) against

Your answer was: n/a
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What does it mean against clock?

[Torsten]

working under time pressue

TOEIC listening, talks: Stadium announcement inviting fans to stay for after game party

[Dongocan]

against the clock (IDM) : you do fast in order to finish before a particular time

[Kati Svaby]

Exp:
work against the clock = work very fast
It was a race against the clock to get the building work finished in time.