set a deadline

Meaning

This expression means to establish a specific date or time by which a task or project must be completed. It is used in project management, team meetings, and daily planning to ensure tasks are finished on schedule.

Examples

• The manager decided to set a deadline of next Friday for the project proposal.

  The manager decided to set a deadline of next Friday for the project proposal.

• We need to set a deadline so the team knows what to prioritize.

  We need to set a deadline so the team knows what to prioritize.

• If we don't set a deadline, this project will drag on forever.

  If we don't set a deadline, this project will drag on forever.

• They set a deadline that was simply impossible to meet.

  They set a deadline that was simply impossible to meet.

• It's important to set a realistic deadline to avoid stressing the staff.

  It's important to set a realistic deadline to avoid stressing the staff.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to make a deadline for the final report.

  ✓ We need to set a deadline for the final report.

  The correct verb collocation to establish a target date is 'set,' not 'make.'

• ✗ She set a deadline on next Monday.

  ✓ She set a deadline for next Monday.

  Use the preposition 'for' to specify the target date of a deadline, rather than 'on'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To keep everyone on track, we should ___ for the first draft.

  💡 Establish a completion date.

  Show answer

  set a deadline

• The client wants to ___ of October 1st for the website launch.

  💡 Fix a date by which the work must be done.

  Show answer

  set a deadline