time is of the essence

Near-synonyms: no time to lose, clock is ticking, clock is running, time is ticking, time is short; tick-tock (interjection)

You must realize that time is of the essence in regards to your money management and wealth creation.

2002, Ronald Hammond, Practical Money Management & Wealth Creation for Youth and Young Adults, page 53

Patients lack the expertise to promptly obtain critically time-dependent referrals. When time is of the essence, the clinician and staff must assume direct responsibility to assure the stat referral to a microsurgeon is promptly accomplished.

2011, Kenneth M. Hargreaves, Steven R. Cohen, editors, Cohen's Pathways of the PULP, 10th edition, page 426

Time is of the essence is the mantra in business transactions. Fulfilling the mantra of time is of the essence, depends on the capability of making realistic time estimates of what it takes to complete a series of tasks regardless of their complexity and making appropriate decisions.

2015, Gerard H. Gaynor, Decisions: An Engineering and Management Perspective, page 103

Time was of the essence, U.S. and Ukrainian officials believed.

2022 September 13, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper, “The Critical Moment Behind Ukraine’s Rapid Advance”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

Most construction phase agreements and some pre-construction agreements contain a time is of the essence provision. If time is of the essence, a delay caused by the fault of the construction manager would constitute a breach of contract and could result in the construction manager's being liable for damages incurred by the owner as a result of the delay. If there is no time is of the essence provision, reasonableness will be the guide when measuring the timelines of the services provided by the construction manager.

2007, Paul H. Martinez, Rashida Y. V. MacMurray, “Chapter 10: Construction Manager's Responsibilities: Pre-Design, Design and Pre-Construction Phase”, in Stephen A. Hess, Jerome V. Bales, P. Douglas Folk, L. Tyrone Holt, editors, Design Professional and Construction Manager Law, page 297

In a variety of contracts, the courts have held that the requirement that time is of the essence should be applied to the respective obligations of both parties (examples are between (a) buyer and seller, (b) ship owner and charterer, (c) purchaser and vendor, and (d) contractor and owner). Time is normally of the essence where:[…].

2010, John Adriaanse, Construction Contract Law: The Essentials, 3rd edition, page 172