eleventh hour
Just barely time
The eleventh hour is the last possible moment before a deadline or before it's too late to act.
The phrase comes from the biblical parable of workers hired at the eleventh hour of a twelve-hour workday.
Something done at the eleventh hour happens just in time: An eleventh-hour deal averted the strike.
The expression emphasizes urgency and the narrowness of the window for action.
Just before deadline
- time-sensitiveRequiring prompt action
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- urgentNeeding immediate attention
rush · scramble · hurry · countdown · impending · looming · crunch · final push
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- pressureForce upon contact
- nervesTense apprehension
apprehension · worry · unease · jitters · trepidation · suspense · uncertainty · foreboding
Point of termination
- due dateWhen payment is required
- time limitMaximum duration permitted
- submissionYielding to another's will
- target datePlanned completion time
expiration · clock ticking · countdown · finalization · turnaround · extension · procrastination · timetable
Postponement of punishment
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- saveProtect from loss
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
breakthrough · miracle · last-ditch · clutch · comeback · bailout · lifeline · deliverance
last-minute
Just before deadline
- time-sensitiveRequiring prompt action
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
urgent · rush · scramble · hurry · countdown · impending · looming · crunch · final push · nick-of-time
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
nerves · apprehension · worry · unease · jitters · trepidation · suspense · uncertainty · foreboding · angst
cutoff
Point of termination
- due dateWhen payment is required
- time limitMaximum duration permitted
- submissionYielding to another's will
target date · expiration · clock ticking · countdown · finalization · turnaround · extension · procrastination · timetable · deliverable
reprieve
Postponement of punishment
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- saveProtect from loss
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
turnaround · breakthrough · miracle · last-ditch · clutch · comeback · bailout · lifeline · deliverance · narrow escape
- time wordsminute, day, now, soon, today
- desperate measureslast resort, desperate plea, desperation move, last ditch, last chance
- Number Phrasesone and only, two cents, three strikes, four corners, five senses
- suspensesuspense, suspenseful, tension, nail-biter, nail-biting
- urgencyurgent, urgently, emergency, ASAP, stat
- crunch timecrunch time, do or die, do-or-die, last chance, now or never
eleventh hourearly
Occurring before expected
ahead of time · in good time · beforehand · from the start · at the beginning
eleventh hourahead of schedule
Before the planned time
proactive · prepared · forward-thinking · planned · methodical
hour, hours, twelfth, tenth, eleven, hourly, eleventh, elevens, horology