tick away
How seconds go
Tick away describes the steady, incremental passage of time, evoking the rhythmic sound of a clock.
Hours, minutes, or seconds tick away as they pass one by one: The final seconds of the game ticked away.
The phrase often carries a sense of urgency or inevitability, emphasizing that time is being consumed and cannot be recovered.
It can also apply to countdowns or meters: I watched my remaining data tick away.
Time units, or extras
- minutesSixty-second intervals
- hoursSixty-minute spans
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- clockDevice displaying time
elapse · fleeting · transient · momentary · dwindling · slipping · waning · fading
Time limit for completion
- pressureForce upon contact
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- anticipationState of awaiting something
tension · impatience · countdown · racing · hurrying · dwindling · running out · crunch time
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- pulseArterial blood throb
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- metronomeAdjustable beat-marking device
- tempoRate of musical performance
steady · regular · measured · clockwork · metronomic · pendulum · rhythmic · syncopated
seconds
Time units, or extras
clock · elapse · fleeting · transient · momentary · dwindling · slipping · waning · fading · expiring
deadline
Time limit for completion
anticipation · tension · impatience · countdown · racing · hurrying · dwindling · running out · crunch time · eleventh hour
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
tempo · steady · regular · measured · clockwork · metronomic · pendulum · rhythmic · syncopated · mechanical
aging
Growing older over time
tick awaystretch out
Extend to full length
expand · accumulate · pile up · extend · multiply