deadlines
When assignments expire
Deadlines are the times or dates by which something must be completed.
The term originated in American prisons as a line beyond which inmates would be shot—now it survives only in its figurative sense of a cutoff point.
A deadline may be firm or soft, depending on consequences for missing it: The deadline for applications is Friday.
To meet a deadline is to finish in time; to miss one is to fail.
Date-tracking system
- schedulePlan of timed events
- plannerAgenda for scheduling
- timetableArranged list of events
- cutoffPoint of termination
timeframe · milestone · checkpoint · submission · assignment · project · task · deliverable
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- crunchCrushing, grinding noise
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
procrastination · cramming · all-nighter · countdown · race · tension · workload · panic
About to occur
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- crucialOf supreme importance
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- last-minuteJust before deadline
rush · expedite · fast-track · imperative · time-sensitive · looming · approaching · tight
Yielding to another's will
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- handoffDirect physical exchange
- finishBring to completion
- wrap-upConcluding summary or review
finalization · closure · sign-off · turnover · fulfillment · accomplishment · done · shipped
Delaying to later
- deferralAct of delaying action
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- delayEnforced waiting period
- pushbackResistance to something proposed
rescheduling · flexibility · leniency · negotiation · amended · revised · extended · rollover
calendar
Date-tracking system
cutoff · timeframe · milestone · checkpoint · submission · assignment · project · task · deliverable · agenda
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- crunchCrushing, grinding noise
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
overwhelm · procrastination · cramming · all-nighter · countdown · race · tension · workload · panic · sleepless
imminent
About to occur
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- crucialOf supreme importance
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
last-minute · rush · expedite · fast-track · imperative · time-sensitive · looming · approaching · tight · non-negotiable
submission
Yielding to another's will
wrap-up · finalization · closure · sign-off · turnover · fulfillment · accomplishment · done · shipped · filed
postponement
Delaying to later
pushback · rescheduling · flexibility · leniency · negotiation · amended · revised · extended · rollover
- workjob, 9 to 5, jobs, labor, employee
- college lifefreshman, freshman year, sophomore, junior, classes
- office lifecubicle, desk job, desk jobs, office job, full-time job
- productivityproductivity, checking off, prioritization, finishing, output
- business culturebusiness cards, business hours, business meals, dress code, dress codes
- business problemscash flow, hiring, staffing, payroll, expenses
deadlinesat your leisure
ongoing · timelessness · flexible schedules · flexible scheduling · no rush
deadlinessuggestions
Proposed ideas or advice
guidelines · recommendations · soft targets · wishful thinking · ballpark estimates
deadlinesno rush
No urgency here
take your time · unhurried · low-pressure · slack · downtime
- tight deadlineImminent due date
- missed deadlineFailing to submit on time
- tax deadlineFinal date for filing
- filing deadlineFinal submission date
- application deadlineFinal date for submissions
- beat the deadline