Cool MateHurry up vs You don't have long
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hurry up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
You don't have long
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
| Hurry up | You don't have long | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// | 🇬🇧 //jʊ dəʊnt hæv lɒŋ//🇺🇸 //ju doʊnt hæv lɔŋ// |
| Meaning | Do something faster. | You won't have much time. |
| Example | You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! | You don't have long to complete your project, so start now! |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to | don't have long to wait, you don't have long until, you don't have long before |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity. | Using 'long' incorrectly, such as saying 'lengthy' instead., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence, leading to confusion., Confusing the phrase with 'You have a long time', which has the opposite meaning. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations. | Use this phrase when someone is short on time. It's suitable for casual conversations but may not be appropriate in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hurry up vs You don't have long
What's the difference between Hurry up and You don't have long?
Hurry up: Do something faster. You don't have long: You won't have much time.
Can you show an example of each?
Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! You don't have long: You don't have long to complete your project, so start now!
Can I use Hurry up and You don't have long interchangeably?
Not always. Hurry up and You don't have long 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.