crunch time

1.
a period of intense pressure; a critical situation:
It's crunch time for high-tech companies.
Compare crunch (def 10).
Origin
1975-80
Examples from the web for crunch time
  • It's not a huge time savings, but during crunch time on certain tasks, it makes a huge difference.
  • It's getting down to crunch time in the debt ceiling debate.
  • Dunlap, defensive teammates didn't disappoint in crunch time.
  • He took full advantage, was still out there in crunch time, and may have re-established himself in the rotation.
  • With spring training opening in less than a month, it's closing in on crunch time for all involved.
  • But a little over a year ago she faltered at crunch time, and she has paid a stinging price ever since.
  • Giving positive feedback to each other for doing good work and achieving results, during crunch time and every day.
  • Now the crunch time has arrived and the bill has come due.
  • It's down to crunch time for many of us in the fantasy world.
  • Yes, he pontificated about how he opposed the war, but at crunch time he voted in favor of funding it.
Idioms and Phrases with crunch time

crunch time

A period when pressure to succeed is great, often toward the end of an undertaking. For example, It's crunch time—we only have two more days to finish. This term employs crunch in the sense of “a critical situation or test.” [ ; 1970s ]