Have you ever found yourself in a rush and struggling to urge someone to move faster? Or perhaps you’ve needed to nudge someone to complete a task quickly without sounding too harsh? Having a variety of expressions to say “hurry up” in English can come in handy in numerous situations, allowing you to express urgency with tact and finesse. Curious about how to broaden your English communication skills with these useful phrases? Let’s get to it!
Let’s explore a repertoire of 41 commonly used phrases that can be employed as alternatives to “hurry up”.
1. Pick up the pace – Used to encourage someone to move or work faster.
Example: We’re running late, can we pick up the pace?
2. Get a move on – A casual way to tell someone to hurry.
Example: We have a train to catch, get a move on!
3. Step on it – Used when urging someone, usually a driver, to go faster.
Example: We might miss the start of the game, step on it!
4. Make it snappy – A casual way to ask someone to do something quickly.
Example: Could you make it snappy? I’m in a bit of a hurry.
5. Let’s roll – An informal way to say let’s leave now or hurry up.
Example: We’ve spent enough time here, let’s roll.
6. Time’s a-wasting – An old-fashioned but charming way to say that time is running out.
Example: Come on, time’s a-wasting, we need to finish this project.
7. Chop-chop – A playful and casual way to tell someone to hurry up.
Example: Breakfast is getting cold, chop-chop!
8. On the double – A military term used to express the need for swift action.
Example: We need those reports done, on the double!
9. Pronto – Borrowed from Spanish, it’s used to indicate urgency.
Example: I need the documents pronto, please.
10. Shake a leg – An informal phrase used to tell someone to move faster.
Example: We’re going to miss the bus, shake a leg!
11. In a jiffy – Used when something needs to be done very quickly.
Example: Could you finish this task in a jiffy? We’re running behind schedule.
12. Quickly does it – A polite way to urge someone to speed up.
Example: The guests are arriving soon, quickly does it.
13. As fast as possible – A straightforward request for haste.
Example: I need these files sorted as fast as possible.
14. At warp speed – A phrase borrowed from science fiction to indicate extreme speed.
Example: We need to finish cleaning at warp speed before mom comes home.
15. Like a bat out of hell – Used to describe something moving extremely fast.
Example: Drive like a bat out of hell, we need to reach the hospital urgently.
16. As quick as a flash – Asking someone to do something almost instantaneously.
Example: Could you run to the store and be back as quick as a flash?
17. Without further ado – A phrase used to suggest that something should be done now without wasting time.
Example: Without further ado, let’s start the meeting.
18. Rapidly – A formal way to say quickly or urgently.
Example: We need to finish this project rapidly.
19. Get the lead out – An informal way to tell someone to move faster.
Example: Get the lead out, we don’t have all day.
20. In no time – A way to suggest that something needs to be done very quickly.
Example: I need this task completed in no time.
21. Speed up – A simple and straightforward way to ask someone to hurry.
Example: Can we speed up the process?
22. Like there’s no tomorrow – Used when you need something done with urgency.
Example: We need to finish this task like there’s no tomorrow.
23. Look lively – A British term used to tell someone to hurry up.
Example: Look lively, we need to be ready before the guests arrive.
24. At a good clip – A phrase used to describe something moving quickly.
Example: We need to work at a good clip to meet the deadline.
25. Posthaste – A formal, somewhat old-fashioned term for with great speed.
Example: Please deliver these documents posthaste.
26. At breakneck speed – Used when something needs to be done extremely fast.
Example: We have to complete this work at breakneck speed.
27. Move it – An informal and direct way to tell someone to hurry.
Example: We’re running late, move it!
28. Stat – A medical term used when something needs to be done immediately.
Example: We need to get him to surgery, stat!
29. Push the envelope – Used when urging someone to extend their limits to accomplish something quickly.
Example: We need to push the envelope to get this project done on time.
30. At full tilt – Urging someone to go as fast as they can.
Example: We need to run at full tilt to catch the bus.
31. Make haste – A slightly formal, old-fashioned way to tell someone to hurry up.
Example: Make haste, we are running out of time.
32. In a split second – When something needs to be done almost instantly.
Example: I need these calculations done in a split second.
33. Pull out all the stops – Urging someone to do everything they can to complete something quickly.
Example: We need to pull out all the stops to finish this assignment.
34. As swift as a coursing river – A poetic way to urge someone to hurry.
Example: We need to move as swift as a coursing river to reach our goal.
35. At the speed of light – Urging someone to move as quickly as physically possible.
Example: We need to complete these tests at the speed of light.
36. Put the pedal to the metal – Urging someone to move faster, often used when driving.
Example: Put the pedal to the metal, we’re late for the event.
37. Like greased lightning – Describing something moving very fast.
Example: We need to finish these tasks like greased lightning.
38. Faster than a speeding bullet – A phrase borrowed from the Superman comics, used to express extreme speed.
Example: We need to pack faster than a speeding bullet to catch our flight.
39. Don’t dawdle – Telling someone not to waste time.
Example: We have a lot to do today, don’t dawdle.
40. Without a moment’s delay – Saying that something needs to be done immediately.
Example: Please finish these tasks without a moment’s delay.
41. Time is of the essence – A phrase used when something needs to be done quickly because time is limited.
Example: We need to find a solution, time is of the essence.
Conclusion:
In various situations, we often need to convey urgency or press someone to move quicker without coming across as rude. As we’ve explored, there are numerous alternatives to simply saying “hurry up”. With this collection of 41 diverse expressions, your command over English will be noticeably improved, allowing you to articulate your needs more effectively. So why stick to the monotonous “hurry up” when you can add flavor to your conversations with these versatile phrases?
