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Work to a deadline
Work to a deadline
Work to a deadline : Phrases
Meaning:
A point beyond which a task must not last otherwise the effort will be worthless.
Example:
The Vancouver Province works to its dealines to get its daily rag out ot its subsribers.
Origin:
The original deadline was a far more lethal line: if crossed, actual death occurred. It existed around the Andersonville prisoner of war camp in the USA at the time of their Civil War. It was a white line drawn around the camp; if any prisoner crossed the line they were shot dead.