tick down
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To count the time down to zero.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
City, predictably, subjected Villa to a sustained spell of pressure as the clock ticked down - and the home team hada [sic] double escape with eight minutes left. De Jong's shot was unwittingly deflected on to his own post by Clark and then Dzeko headed Johnson's cross wide at the far post when he s
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “tick down” mean?
To count the time down to zero.
Is “tick down” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.