tick away

present singular third person ticks away · participle present ticking away · participle past ticked away · past ticked away

1. To count down to zero (i.e. signaling the end (or start) of something).

   Ticking away the moments that make up the dull day

   1973, Roger Waters, “Time”, in The Dark Side of the Moon, performed by Pink Floyd

   2 more examples

   With time ticking away, Nenad Milijas fell in the box under Huth's challenge, but Sorenson saved the midfielder's spot kick to send the Potters through.

   2011 January 30, “Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Stoke”, in BBC

   The clock is ticking away the minutes in our allotted meeting time.

   2024 February 19, Paul Clifton, “I am absolutely committed to reforming the railway”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 41