Cool MateHurry up vs No time to lose
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hurry up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
No time to lose
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Hurry up
| Hurry up | No time to lose | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ taɪm tə luːz//🇺🇸 //noʊ taɪm tə luz// |
| Meaning | Do something faster. | There is no time to waste. |
| Example | You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! | We have **no time to lose** if we want to catch the bus. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to | act quickly, make a decision, take action, start moving, be urgent |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity. | Mixing up with 'no time to waste' while meaning the same., Using it in formal contexts where a more formal phrase is needed., Overusing in contexts that do not convey urgency. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations. | Used to express urgency or the need to act quickly. Common in casual conversation but can be used in informal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hurry up vs No time to lose
What's the difference between Hurry up and No time to lose?
Hurry up: Do something faster. No time to lose: There is no time to waste.
Which is more common: Hurry up and No time to lose?
Hurry up is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! No time to lose: We have **no time to lose** if we want to catch the bus.
Can I use Hurry up and No time to lose interchangeably?
Not always. Hurry up and No time to lose are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.