deadline 是名词，指「完成某事的最后期限」。关键搭配：① meet a deadline（赶上截止日期：meet the submission deadline = 赶上提交截止日期）；② miss a deadline（错过截止日期）；③ set / impose a deadline（设定/规定截止日期）；④ work to a deadline（在截止日期前完成工作）；⑤ a tight deadline（紧迫的截止日期）。辨析：deadline（截止日期，侧重「不可逾越的最后时限」）vs. due date（到期日，日常：the due date for the assignment = 作业截止日）vs. time limit（时间限制：within the time limit = 在时间限制内）vs. target date（目标日期，较灵活：a target date of = 一个目标日期）。
释义
1
n.截止日期，最后期限
The editorial team is under considerable pressure to meet the publication deadline without compromising the accuracy or quality of the research.
编辑团队面临相当大的压力，需要在不影响研究准确性或质量的情况下赶上出版截止日期。
语感
meet / miss a deadline（赶上/错过截止日期）；work to a deadline（赶截止日期工作）；a tight deadline（紧迫的截止日期）；set / impose a deadline（设定截止日期）；under deadline pressure（在截止日期压力下）
截止日期，最后期限（the submission deadline = 提交截止日期）
高频搭配：meet a deadline（赶上截止日期：meet the deadline for = 赶上…的截止日期）；miss a deadline（错过截止日期：miss the application deadline = 错过申请截止日期）；set / impose / extend a deadline（设定/规定/延长截止日期）；work to a deadline（在截止日期约束下工作）；a tight / strict / firm deadline（紧迫/严格/固定的截止日期）；under deadline pressure（在截止日期压力下）；a self-imposed deadline（自己设定的截止日期）；the deadline is approaching / looming（截止日期临近/迫近）；辨析：deadline（不可商量的最后期限）vs. due date（到期日，语气较轻：payment due date = 付款到期日）vs. time limit（时间限制：a time limit of two hours = 两小时限制）vs. cut-off date（截止日期，正式：the cut-off date for applications = 申请截止日）。
陷阱
⚠️meet a deadline（赶上）vs. reach a deadline（× 错误搭配）
Despite the team working overtime for two consecutive weeks, they still failed to meet the deadline set by the client.
✗
× reach a deadline / × finish a deadline / × complete a deadline（错误动词）
✓
meet a deadline（赶上截止日期，固定搭配：meet the submission deadline = 赶上提交截止日期）；miss a deadline（错过截止日期）；beat a deadline（提前完成：beat the deadline by a week = 提前一周完成）；set a deadline（设定截止日期）；× reach a deadline / × complete a deadline = 非标准（deadline 是时间点，不是目标，不用 reach/complete/finish）
尽管团队连续两周加班，他们仍未能赶上客户设定的截止日期。（meet the deadline，× reach/complete a deadline）
⚠️a tight deadline（紧迫的截止日期）——× a short deadline
✗
The project manager warned that a short deadline would make it impossible to carry out proper quality checks before the product launch.
项目经理警告称，紧迫的截止日期将使在产品发布前进行适当的质量检查变得不可能。（× a short deadline → ✓ a tight deadline）
a tight deadline（紧迫的截止日期，时间非常紧）是标准搭配；× a short deadline = 非标准（deadline 是时间点，不是时间长度，不用 short/long 修饰）；正确修饰词：tight（紧迫的）/ strict（严格的）/ firm（固定不动的）/ looming（即将来临的）；× a long deadline 也不正确（用 generous timeline = 宽裕的时间表 / ample time = 充裕的时间）
✓
The project manager warned that a tight deadline would make it impossible to carry out proper quality checks before the product launch.
项目经理警告称，紧迫的截止日期将使在产品发布前进行适当的质量检查变得不可能。（a tight deadline，× a short deadline）
近义辨析
deadlinevsdue date
deadlinedeadline（截止日期，强调「不可逾越的最后时限」：meet the deadline = 赶上截止日期；miss the deadline = 错过）due datedue date（到期日，较口语，语气较轻：the due date for the assignment = 作业到期日；the payment due date = 付款到期日；比 deadline 更日常，常用于作业、账单）
The government has set a firm deadline of June for all agencies to complete the transition to the new data management system.
政府为所有机构完成向新数据管理系统过渡设定了6月的固定截止日期。
Your assignment due date has been extended by one week in recognition of the technical difficulties students experienced accessing the online library.
鉴于学生在访问在线图书馆时遇到的技术困难，您的作业到期日已延长一周。
写作加分
✨ 加分词
替换：last daytime limitend date
职场话题政策分析话题教育话题
普通
Workers often feel stressed because they have to finish tasks on time.
工人们经常感到压力，因为他们必须按时完成任务。
加分 ✨
Working consistently under tight deadlines without adequate support can lead to chronic stress and burnout, reducing both individual wellbeing and organisational productivity.
在没有足够支持的情况下持续在紧迫截止日期下工作会导致慢性压力和职业倦怠，降低个人福祉和组织生产力。
为什么更好：under tight deadlines 是职场话题精准表达；without adequate support 引入管理层面；reducing both...and...展示双维影响
常用搭配
meet / miss a deadline赶上/错过截止日期（× reach a deadline）
set / impose / extend a deadline设定/规定/延长截止日期
a tight / firm deadline紧迫/固定的截止日期（× a short deadline）
work to a deadline在截止日期约束下工作
under deadline pressure在截止日期压力下
词根
deadline = dead（死）+ line（线）→ 「越过这条线就死了」= 截止日期（不可越过的最后期限）；meet the deadline = 在死线前完成；miss the deadline = 越过了死线 = 错过截止日期
考考你
Q1对错判断
判断下面句子里的用法是否正确：
All applications must be received by the specified date; the organisation cannot consider submissions that miss the deadline under any circumstances.
所有申请必须在规定日期前收到；在任何情况下，该组织都不能考虑错过截止日期的提交。
miss the deadline（错过截止日期）用法正确；submissions that miss the deadline = 定语从句；under any circumstances = 在任何情况下，固定搭配
Q2近义选词
选择最恰当的词填空：
The lecturer announced that the ___ for the final essay had been extended to the following Friday.
Adeadline
Bdue date
✓ 讲师宣布期末论文的到期日已延长至下周五。
due date（到期日）在学术作业语境中很自然；the due date for the final essay = 期末论文到期日；deadline 也正确但偏正式；学术课堂中教师更常用 due date / submission date；extended = 延长，与 due date 搭配自然
Q3义项辨析
下面四个句子中，哪个搭配有误？
A
The legal team worked through the weekend to meet the court-imposed filing deadline.
法律团队整个周末工作以赶上法院规定的提交截止日期。
B
The construction project missed its original completion deadline by three months due to supply chain disruptions.
由于供应链中断，该建设项目错过了原来的竣工截止日期三个月。
C
Journalists working in breaking news must be able to produce high-quality content under extremely short deadlines.
从事突发新闻的记者必须能够在极短的截止日期内制作高质量内容。
D
The committee agreed to extend the public consultation deadline by a further two weeks.
委员会同意将公众咨询截止日期再延长两周。
C 中 × short deadlines → ✓ tight deadlines（紧迫的截止日期）；deadline 是时间点，不用 short/long 修饰；正确搭配：tight deadline = 紧迫的截止日期；A 中 meet the deadline（赶上）正确；B 中 missed the deadline（错过）正确；D 中 extend the deadline（延长）正确