B1 Collocation 中性 3分钟阅读

meet deadline

يلتزم بالموعد النهائي

字面意思: To encounter the final boundary of time

Use `meet a deadline` to show you are reliable and can finish work on time.

15秒了解

  • Finishing a task before the agreed-upon cutoff time.
  • Essential for work, school, and professional reliability.
  • Shows respect for others' schedules and project timelines.

意思

This phrase means finishing a task or project by the specific time it was supposed to be done. It is like crossing the finish line of a race just before the clock hits zero.

关键例句

3 / 6
1

Talking to a manager

Don't worry, we will definitely meet the deadline for the launch.

Don't worry, we will definitely meet the deadline for the launch.

💼
2

Texting a friend to cancel plans

I'm so sorry, I have to meet a deadline by midnight tonight!

I'm so sorry, I have to meet a deadline by midnight tonight!

😊
3

Discussing a difficult project

It was a struggle, but we managed to meet the deadline.

It was a struggle, but we managed to meet the deadline.

🤝
🌍

文化背景

The term 'deadline' originated in American military prisons during the 1860s as a physical boundary. In modern Western culture, especially in the US and UK, punctuality is viewed as a core professional virtue. Meeting a deadline is often seen as more important than the absolute perfection of the work itself.

💡

Beat the Deadline

If you want to impress your boss, say you want to 'beat the deadline.' This means finishing even earlier than expected!

⚠️

Don't say 'Finish the deadline'

Common mistake! You finish the *task*, but you meet the *deadline*. Avoid saying 'I finished my deadline.'

15秒了解

  • Finishing a task before the agreed-upon cutoff time.
  • Essential for work, school, and professional reliability.
  • Shows respect for others' schedules and project timelines.

What It Means

To meet a deadline is to succeed in finishing your work on time. Think of it as a promise you keep to your boss, teacher, or even yourself. If the report is due at 5:00 PM and you hand it in at 4:59 PM, you have met the deadline. It is all about punctuality and reliability. It feels like winning a mini-battle against the clock.

How To Use It

You use this phrase as a verb. You can say I met the deadline (past) or I need to meet the deadline (future). It usually follows words like struggling to, managed to, or failed to. If you are working hard to finish, you are working toward a deadline. If you finish early, you didn't just meet it; you beat it! Just remember, meet stays as the action word here.

When To Use It

This is a superstar phrase in the professional world. Use it in office meetings, emails to clients, or when talking about school assignments. It is perfect for any situation where a clock is ticking. You might text a friend: "Can't grab coffee, I have to meet a deadline tonight." It sounds responsible and busy. It is also great for project management and planning.

When NOT To Use It

Don't use this for casual social plans. If you are meeting a friend for dinner at 7:00 PM, you don't meet a deadline; you are just on time. It sounds a bit robotic to use it for a date or a movie. Also, avoid it for things that don't have a fixed end-time. You don't meet a deadline for cleaning your room unless your mom gave you a strict cutoff!

Cultural Background

The word deadline has a surprisingly dark history. It originally referred to a literal line around a Civil War prison. If a prisoner crossed it, they were shot. Thankfully, today it just means your boss might be annoyed! In Western work culture, meeting a deadline is a huge sign of respect. It shows you value other people's time as much as your own.

Common Variations

You will often hear people say they are on a tight deadline. This means they have very little time left. If you miss the time, you missed the deadline. If you are lucky, you might ask for an extension. Some people also use hit the deadline in more casual tech or media offices. It all circles back to that race against time.

使用说明

The phrase is highly versatile and works in almost any professional or academic setting. It is a 'collocation,' meaning 'meet' and 'deadline' are naturally paired together by native speakers.

💡

Beat the Deadline

If you want to impress your boss, say you want to 'beat the deadline.' This means finishing even earlier than expected!

⚠️

Don't say 'Finish the deadline'

Common mistake! You finish the *task*, but you meet the *deadline*. Avoid saying 'I finished my deadline.'

💬

The 'Soft' Deadline

In some creative fields, people talk about 'soft deadlines' (flexible) vs 'hard deadlines' (strict). Always clarify which one it is!

例句

6
#1 Talking to a manager
💼

Don't worry, we will definitely meet the deadline for the launch.

Don't worry, we will definitely meet the deadline for the launch.

Shows confidence and professional commitment.

#2 Texting a friend to cancel plans
😊

I'm so sorry, I have to meet a deadline by midnight tonight!

I'm so sorry, I have to meet a deadline by midnight tonight!

Uses the phrase as a valid excuse for being busy.

#3 Discussing a difficult project
🤝

It was a struggle, but we managed to meet the deadline.

It was a struggle, but we managed to meet the deadline.

Highlights the effort required to finish on time.

#4 A humorous office joke
😄

I love deadlines; I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.

I love deadlines; I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.

A famous quote by Douglas Adams about missing deadlines.

#5 Anxious student talking to a peer
💭

If I don't meet this deadline, I might fail the whole course.

If I don't meet this deadline, I might fail the whole course.

Expresses high stakes and stress.

#6 Formal email to a client
👔

Our team is working overtime to ensure we meet the deadline.

Our team is working overtime to ensure we meet the deadline.

Very formal and reassuring tone.

自我测试

Choose the correct verb to complete the professional phrase.

We need to work faster if we want to ___ the deadline.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: meet

In English, we specifically use the verb 'meet' with 'deadline' to mean finishing on time.

What is the opposite of meeting a deadline?

I'm afraid I'm going to ___ the deadline because my computer crashed.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: miss

To 'miss a deadline' is the standard way to say you failed to finish on time.

🎉 得分: /2

视觉学习工具

Formality of 'Meet a Deadline'

Informal

Texting a friend about being busy.

Got a deadline to meet, ttyl!

Neutral

Standard office or school talk.

Did you meet the deadline?

Formal

Contracts and official reports.

The contractor failed to meet the deadline.

Where you'll hear 'Meet a Deadline'

Meet Deadline
🎓

University

Submitting a thesis paper.

💼

Corporate Office

Finishing a quarterly report.

📰

Journalism

Getting a story in before printing.

💻

Freelancing

Sending work to a client.

常见问题

10 个问题

It means on or before the time. If the deadline is Friday, and you finish Thursday, you have successfully met the deadline.

No, that is just making it to an appointment. Use meet a deadline for tasks, projects, or assignments.

Yes! You can tell a friend, "I can't hang out, I'm trying to meet a deadline." It sounds very natural.

A tight deadline means you have very little time to finish a lot of work. It implies a lot of stress!

Yes, hit the deadline is a common, slightly more casual variation often used in fast-paced industries like tech.

It is neutral. It is perfectly fine for a formal contract or a casual conversation with a coworker.

You should ask for an extension. You would say, "I'm struggling to meet the deadline, can I have two more days?"

It comes from the American Civil War, where a 'dead line' was a boundary in a prison camp that prisoners couldn't cross.

Usually, we use an article like 'the' or 'a'. For example: "I need to meet the deadline."

Not really. You don't meet a time or meet a schedule. You stick to a schedule or arrive on time.

相关表达

Miss a deadline

To fail to finish something on time.

Tight deadline

A very short amount of time to complete a task.

Deadline is looming

The time limit is approaching and feels threatening or stressful.

Beat the clock

To finish something just before the time runs out.

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