【明報專訊】◆A race against the clock

If you are in a race against the clock, you have to do something very quickly.

e.g. It's a race against the clock for Angus to finish the research paper before the deadline.

◆At an unearthly hour

It means at a time that is too early, especially when this is annoying.

e.g. It was 4am. MoMo felt sleepy and annoyed when Pat called her at an unearthly hour.

◆Up to the minute

It describes something modern, fashionable or recently updated.

e.g. The phone looks up to the minute— it has all the new AI features.

[Smarties' Power English 第228期]