Meaning & use
strict deadlines
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Meaning
nounplural
Time limits that must be obeyed exactly, with no allowance for being late.
Grammar: Plural noun phrase; use a strict deadline for one.
Patterns
- have strict deadlines
- work to strict deadlines
- meet strict deadlines
Journalists often work to strict deadlines.
The project has strict deadlines, so we can't afford delays.
Students complained about the strict deadlines for assignments.
Word forms
| singular | strict deadline |
|---|
Common combinations
- meet strict deadlines
- She always meets strict deadlines without fail.
- work to strict deadlines
- In this job, you work to strict deadlines every day.
- impose strict deadlines
- The manager imposed strict deadlines on the team.
- under strict deadlines
- Under strict deadlines, mistakes are more likely.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tight deadlines
- Tight deadlines means there is very little time, but not necessarily that being late is forbidden; strict deadlines emphasizes that the rules must be followed.
- firm deadlines
- Firm deadlines are fixed and not likely to change; strict deadlines are even stronger and suggest penalties for lateness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: strict deadlines or strict deadline?
strict deadlines vs strict deadline
Strict deadline is singular; strict deadlines is plural. Use the singular when talking about one specific due date.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'strict deadlines' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option A correctly shows that strict deadlines are firm time limits. The other options contradict the idea of strictness or deadlines.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “strict deadlines”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.