nut-cutting time

== English == === Pronunciation === === Noun === nut-cutting time (uncountable) The optimal time to gather nuts before they are seized by other animals or buried in snow. (idiomatic) Time to exert maximum effort, for example, due to an approaching deadline or a looming competitive situation. ==== Usage notes ==== The association of the word nuts with testicles may limit the use of this idiom in formal settings, regardless of the source of the term. ==== See also ==== crunch time