tight schedule — busy timetable
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
A period of time when you have a lot of things to do and very little free time.
Say it like a native
Textbook I am operating within a highly constrained timetable today.
Native I'm on a really tight schedule today.
'Tight schedule' is the set phrase; the formal version is stiff.
Pattern: have a tight schedule / on a tight schedule
In use
- I have a tight schedule this week, so I can't meet for lunch.daily life
- In my opinion, managing a tight schedule is an important skill for university students, because they often have to balance classes, assignments, and part-time jobs.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I'm in a tight schedule.
✓ I'm on a tight schedule.
You're ON a tight schedule — not 'in'.
Common collocations
tight schedule + on— on a tight schedule, a tight deadline, keep to, working to
Don't confuse it
Don't confuse with 'flexible schedule,' which means you have more free time or can change your plans easily.