Cool MateHurry up vs No time to lose vs Rush
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)
Rush
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most formal: RushMost common: Rush
| Hurry up | No time to lose | Rush | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ taɪm tə luːz//🇺🇸 //noʊ taɪm tə luz// | 🇬🇧 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Do something faster. | There is no time to waste. | to move quickly or hurry |
| 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. | I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left. |
| Register | Informal | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | ||
| Collocations | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to | act quickly, make a decision, take action, start moving, be urgent | headlong, madly, quickly, along, from, into, come rushing, go rushing, rush to somebody’s rescue, headlong, madly, quickly, along, from, into, come rushing, go rushing, rush to somebody’s rescue |
| Antonyms | - | - | slow, dawdle, linger |
| 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. | Incorrectly using 'rush' as a noun without an article when needed., Using 'rushed' as a present tense instead of the correct form., Confusing 'rush' with 'push' in the context of moving quickly. |
| 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. | Commonly used when talking about a need to hurry, like catching a bus. Avoid in very formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hurry up vs No time to lose vs Rush
What's the difference between Hurry up, No time to lose, and Rush?
Hurry up: Do something faster. No time to lose: There is no time to waste. Rush: to move quickly or hurry
Which is more formal: Hurry up, No time to lose, and Rush?
Rush is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Hurry up, No time to lose, and Rush?
Rush 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. Rush: I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left.
Can I use Hurry up, No time to lose, and Rush interchangeably?
Not always. Hurry up, No time to lose, and Rush 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.