extend deadline
Postpone due date
Literalmente: To stretch the time limit
Use `extend the deadline` when you need more time to complete a formal task or project.
En 15 segundos
- Moving a due date to a later time or day.
- Commonly used in professional, academic, and administrative settings.
- A polite way to ask for more time on a project.
Significado
To extend a deadline means to give someone more time to finish a task. It is like moving the finish line further away so you don't feel rushed.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6In a professional meeting
Would it be possible to extend the deadline for the quarterly report?
Would it be possible to postpone the due date for the quarterly report?
Texting a classmate
The teacher extended the deadline for our essay until Sunday night!
The teacher moved the essay due date to Sunday night!
Dealing with a client
Since we added new features, we need to extend the deadline by a week.
Because we added new features, we need another week.
Contexto cultural
The word 'deadline' actually has a dark history, originating from American Civil War prisons where a 'dead line' was a boundary prisoners couldn't cross without being shot. Today, it is much less literal, but the sense of urgency remains. Extending it is seen as a professional courtesy that balances strict productivity with human reality.
The 'Why' Matters
When asking to `extend the deadline`, always provide a brief reason. It makes people much more likely to say yes!
Don't Wait!
In Western business culture, asking to `extend the deadline` at the very last minute is considered rude. Ask at least 24-48 hours before.
En 15 segundos
- Moving a due date to a later time or day.
- Commonly used in professional, academic, and administrative settings.
- A polite way to ask for more time on a project.
What It Means
Imagine you have a big project due on Friday. You realize you need more time to make it perfect. When you extend the deadline, you change that due date to next Monday. It is like hitting the 'snooze' button on a major responsibility. You are stretching the window of time you have to work. It is a lifesaver when life gets messy or tasks get complicated.
How To Use It
You usually use this phrase with a boss, a teacher, or a client. You can say, 'Could we extend the deadline by two days?' This sounds professional and clear. You can also talk about the deadline being extended by someone else. For example, 'The professor extended the deadline because the website crashed.' It is a very flexible phrase that fits into most sentences easily.
When To Use It
Use this when you are feeling the pressure of time. It is perfect for work emails or university assignments. You can also use it for personal things, like a library book or a bill. If you are a freelancer, you might ask a client to extend the deadline for a design. It shows you care about quality over speed. Just don't ask five minutes before the time is up!
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for social plans like dinner or a movie. You don't extend the deadline for a party; you just 'reschedule' or 'postpone' it. Also, avoid using it for things that don't have a fixed end time. You wouldn't extend the deadline for your vacation. It sounds a bit too robotic for casual hangouts with your best friends.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, deadlines are often seen as very strict. Being late is usually a big problem in business. However, people are human! Asking to extend the deadline is a common way to negotiate. It shows you are organized enough to know you need more time. In the US and UK, it is better to ask early than to miss it entirely.
Common Variations
You might hear people say 'push back the deadline' or 'move the due date.' These mean the exact same thing. If you want to sound very formal, you can say 'grant an extension.' If you are talking to a close teammate, you might just say 'give us more time.' But extend the deadline is the gold standard that everyone understands perfectly.
Notas de uso
This is a neutral-to-formal collocation. It's safe for use in almost any professional or academic setting without sounding too stiff or too casual.
The 'Why' Matters
When asking to `extend the deadline`, always provide a brief reason. It makes people much more likely to say yes!
Don't Wait!
In Western business culture, asking to `extend the deadline` at the very last minute is considered rude. Ask at least 24-48 hours before.
The Softener
Native speakers often use 'softeners' like 'I was wondering if...' or 'Is there any way we could...' before saying `extend the deadline` to sound more polite.
Ejemplos
6Would it be possible to extend the deadline for the quarterly report?
Would it be possible to postpone the due date for the quarterly report?
A polite, standard way to ask a manager for more time.
The teacher extended the deadline for our essay until Sunday night!
The teacher moved the essay due date to Sunday night!
Sharing good news about a school assignment.
Since we added new features, we need to extend the deadline by a week.
Because we added new features, we need another week.
Explaining why more time is needed due to extra work.
Can I extend the deadline for cleaning my room? I'm busy watching Netflix.
Can I have more time to clean my room? I'm busy.
Using a formal phrase for a silly, lazy situation.
If they don't extend the deadline, I'm going to have to pull an all-nighter.
If they don't give us more time, I'll have to work all night.
Expressing stress about a tight schedule.
The library has extended the deadline for your book return.
The library moved the return date for your book.
A common notification from a service or institution.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct word to complete the professional request.
I'm afraid the project is more complex than expected. Can we ___ the deadline?
We use `extend` specifically with time limits like deadlines. 'Expand' is for physical size, and 'increase' is for numbers or amounts.
Complete the sentence about a school situation.
The professor was kind enough to extend the deadline ___ Friday.
We use `until` to show the new point in time when the extension ends.
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Ayudas visuales
Formality of 'Extend the Deadline'
Talking to friends about chores
Give me more time.
Standard workplace or school use
Can we extend the deadline?
Legal or high-level business
Requesting a formal extension.
When to Request an Extension
University
Asking a professor for more time on a paper.
Office
Delaying a project launch for quality checks.
Freelancing
Negotiating with a client for a later delivery.
Government
Extending the date for filing taxes.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt means moving a due date to a later time. For example, if something was due on Tuesday, you change it to Thursday.
Yes, it is very professional. Just make sure to say Could we extend the deadline? rather than demanding it.
Not really. While 'stretch' makes sense, extend is the standard collocation that sounds natural to native speakers.
Extend is used for the deadline itself, while 'postpone' is used for events like meetings or weddings.
It is neutral. You can use it in a text to a coworker, but with a close friend, you might just say 'I need more time.'
Try: 'Given the current workload, would it be possible to extend the deadline by a few days?'
Technically yes, but in English, that usually means the project is being cancelled or put on hold.
You would say 'moving up the deadline' or 'shortening the timeframe' if the date becomes earlier.
Yes! People often talk about the government extending the deadline for tax filings during emergencies.
It is always one word: deadline. It used to be two words a long time ago, but not anymore.
Frases relacionadas
Push back
To delay something to a later time.
Grant an extension
The formal act of allowing more time.
Cut it close
To finish something just before the deadline.
Miss the deadline
To fail to finish something on time.
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