# nut-cutting time

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nut-cutting-time
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Time to exert maximum effort, for example, due to an approaching deadline or a looming competitive situation.

## Examples

- It is nut-cutting time, so we must finish this project today.
- With the final deadline only hours away, the team realized it was nut-cutting time and stopped all distractions.
- As the market share plummeted and investors grew restless, the executive board recognized it was finally nut-cutting time for the struggling company.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.