short runway
Abbreviated landing path
Short runway describes a limited timeframe or resources before something must succeed or fail.
The metaphor comes from aviation—a plane on a short runway has less distance to achieve takeoff speed.
In business contexts, a startup with a short runway has limited funding before it runs out of money: With only six months of runway left, they needed to close the deal fast.
The phrase emphasizes urgency and constraint.
- airstripBasic aircraft landing surface
- takeoffDeparture or parody
- landingDescent's final moment
- hard landingForceful impact upon touchdown
- tarmacPaved airport surface
asphalt · bush plane · carrier deck · approach · threshold · touchdown · touch and go · skid · brakes · reverse thrust · thrust · steep · cramped · tight · clearance · obstacle · trees · fence