Hurry up means to move or act more quickly than you currently are. Here are 5 top alternatives: speed up, pick up the pace, get a move on, accelerate, expedite.
The phrase “hurry up” is one of the most common expressions in everyday English, yet it often comes across as impatient, demanding, or even rude. We all need to encourage speed sometimes, but the way we say it matters enormously in both professional and personal contexts.
Learning diverse alternatives to hurry up helps you express urgency in English without sounding bossy or aggressive. Whether you’re managing a project team, rushing to a deadline, or simply trying to get out the door on time, having a rich vocabulary of alternatives to hurry up allows you to match your tone perfectly to every situation. Let’s explore 30 powerful alternatives that will transform how you communicate urgency.
Quick Categories
Formal Alternatives to “Hurry Up”
- Expedite speed up a process or procedure
- Accelerate increase the speed or rate of something
- Precipitate cause something to happen sooner than planned
- Fast-track prioritize to speed up completion
Professional Alternatives
- Prioritize treat something as more important than others
- Streamline make more efficient and faster
- Optimize make the best or most effective use of time
- Rationalize reorganize for greater efficiency
Casual Alternatives
- Get a move on start moving or acting more quickly
- Step on it go faster (often used for vehicles)
- Pick up the pace increase your speed
- Shake a leg hurry up (lighthearted)
Informal Expressions
- Chop-chop hurry up (playful, often used with children)
- Get cracking start working quickly
- Speed it up increase your speed
- Make it snappy do it quickly and efficiently
Pro Tip: In professional settings, avoid casual alternatives unless you know your audience well. Use formal options like “expedite” or “accelerate” in emails and formal communications.
Common Mistakes Using “Hurry Up”
- Using it with superiors or clients
❌ “Please hurry up with the report.”
✅ “Could we expedite the report delivery?” - Saying it without offering help
❌ “Hurry up, we’re late!”
✅ “Let me help you finish so we can leave.” - Using it in written business communication
❌ “Please hurry up the approval process.”
✅ “We would appreciate your prompt attention to the approval process.” - Repeating it constantly
❌ “Hurry up, hurry up!”
✅ “Let’s pick up the pace so we meet the deadline.” - Using it when you mean “complete”
❌ “Hurry up your task.”
✅ “Please prioritize the completion of your task.”
What Does “Hurry Up” Mean?
“Hurry up” is a phrasal verb meaning to move or act more quickly. It’s an imperative (command) form used to urge someone to increase their speed. While common in casual speech, it can sound demanding or impatient in professional contexts.
Example Sentence: “We need to hurry up if we want to catch the train.”
When to Use “Hurry Up”
Common Contexts:
- Time-sensitive situations deadlines, appointments
- Travel catching transport, arriving on time
- Group activities coordinating multiple people
- Emergency situations needing immediate action
- Daily routines morning preparation, daily tasks
Spoken vs. Written:
- Spoken: Very common in casual conversation
- Written: Rarely appropriate; use alternatives
Formal vs. Informal:
- Formal: Never appropriate; use professional alternatives
- Informal: Acceptable among friends and family
“The way you ask someone to speed up reveals more about your leadership than their timing.”
Is It Professional or Polite to Say “Hurry Up”?
Polite? ❌ Not Usually It can sound demanding and impatient.
Professional? ❌ No Never use in formal writing or professional situations.
Business Example: “Please hurry up with the presentation.”
Better option: “Could we expedite the presentation preparation to meet our deadline?”
Pros and Cons of Using “Hurry Up”
Pros:
- Direct and clear everyone understands the urgency
- Simple vocabulary accessible to all English levels
- Casual and friendly acceptable among close friends
- Action-oriented clearly communicates the need
Cons:
- Often considered rude especially in professional settings
- Impatient tone can damage relationships
- No solution offered just demands speed without help
- Overly demanding ignores others’ constraints
“Great communicators create urgency without creating anxiety.”
Other Ways to Say “Hurry Up” (With Examples)
These alternatives will help you sound more fluent, confident, and natural in different situations. Use them according to tone, context, and audience to express urgency in English appropriately.
1. Phrase: Expedite
Meaning: Make a process happen more quickly.
Explanation: Professional term used in business and official contexts.
Example Sentence: “Could we expedite the shipping process to meet the client’s deadline?”
Best Use: Business emails
Worst Use: Friends and family
Tone: Formal, Efficient
Context Variability: Professional “We need to expedite the review process.”
2. Phrase: Accelerate
Meaning: Increase the speed or rate of something.
Explanation: Often used in project management and technical contexts.
Example Sentence: “We should accelerate our timeline to launch before competitors.”
Best Use: Strategic discussions
Worst Use: Personal conversations
Tone: Professional, Strategic
Context Variability: Professional “The team is accelerating production to meet demand.”
3. Phrase: Pick Up the Pace
Meaning: Increase your speed or work rate.
Explanation: Common in both casual and professional contexts.
Example Sentence: “We need to pick up the pace if we want to finish by five.”
Best Use: Team settings
Worst Use: Formal documents
Tone: Encouraging, Direct
Context Variability: Casual “Let’s pick up the pace, everyone.”
4. Phrase: Get a Move On
Meaning: Start moving or acting more quickly.
Explanation: Casual but widely understood across English varieties.
Example Sentence: “Come on, get a move on we’re going to be late!”
Best Use: Friends and family
Worst Use: Professional writing
Tone: Casual, Urgent
Context Variability: Casual “Get a move on, the movie starts in ten minutes.”
5. Phrase: Step on It
Meaning: Go faster (originally from driving).
Explanation: Common in American English, often used for vehicles.
Example Sentence: “Step on it the traffic light is about to change!”
Best Use: Driving contexts
Worst Use: Professional situations
Tone: Urgent, Direct
Context Variability: Casual “Step on it, we’re running late!”
6. Phrase: Speed Up
Meaning: Increase your speed or rate.
Explanation: A neutral and direct alternative to “hurry up.”
Example Sentence: “Could you please speed up the data entry process?”
Best Use: General use
Worst Use: Very formal writing
Tone: Neutral, Direct
Context Variability: Professional “We need to speed up the deployment.”
7. Phrase: Make It Snappy
Meaning: Do it quickly and without delay.
Explanation: Informal expression meaning “be fast about it.”
Example Sentence: “Make it snappy we have another meeting in fifteen minutes.”
Best Use: Casual workplaces
Worst Use: Formal emails
Tone: Informal, Direct
Context Variability: Casual “Get me that coffee, and make it snappy!”
8. Phrase: Get Cracking
Meaning: Start working quickly and energetically.
Explanation: British English expression for starting with urgency.
Example Sentence: “We’d better get cracking if we want to finish on time.”
Best Use: Team environments
Worst Use: Formal documents
Tone: Energetic, Encouraging
Context Variability: Casual “Let’s get cracking on that project.”
9. Phrase: Chop-Chop
Meaning: Hurry up (playful, often used with children).
Explanation: Very casual, sometimes perceived as condescending with adults.
Example Sentence: “Chop-chop, kids time for school!”
Best Use: Children, joking contexts
Worst Use: Professional situations
Tone: Playful, Lighthearted
Context Variability: Casual “Chop-chop, we’re going to miss the bus.”
10. Phrase: Shake a Leg
Meaning: Hurry up (lighthearted expression).
Explanation: Informal British expression for moving quickly.
Example Sentence: “Shake a leg, or we’ll miss the beginning of the show.”
Best Use: Family and friends
Worst Use: Business contexts
Tone: Playful, Urgent
Context Variability: Casual “Shake a leg, everyone!”
11. Phrase: Fast-Track
Meaning: Prioritize to speed up completion.
Explanation: Professional term for accelerating a process.
Example Sentence: “We’ll fast-track the project to launch by the end of the month.”
Best Use: Project management
Worst Use: Personal activities
Tone: Professional, Efficient
Context Variability: Professional “The board decided to fast-track the expansion.”
12. Phrase: Prioritize
Meaning: Treat something as more important and do it first.
Explanation: A more positive way to encourage speed.
Example Sentence: “Let’s prioritize the client’s request to ensure they get the best service.”
Best Use: Professional contexts
Worst Use: Urgent situations
Tone: Professional, Organized
Context Variability: Professional “We’ll prioritize this matter.”
13. Phrase: Streamline
Meaning: Make a process more efficient and faster.
Explanation: Focuses on system improvement rather than demanding speed.
Example Sentence: “We need to streamline our approval process to avoid delays.”
Best Use: Process improvement
Worst Use: Personal situations
Tone: Professional, Strategic
Context Variability: Professional “Let’s streamline operations for better efficiency.”
14. Phrase: Move It
Meaning: Hurry up (very direct).
Explanation: Extremely direct, can sound aggressive.
Example Sentence: “Come on, move it we’re going to be late!”
Best Use: Emergency situations
Worst Use: Any polite context
Tone: Direct, Urgent
Context Variability: Casual “Move it, the train is leaving!”
15. Phrase: Push the Pace
Meaning: Increase the speed of progress.
Explanation: Common in business and sports contexts.
Example Sentence: “We need to push the pace to stay ahead of competitors.”
Best Use: Business contexts
Worst Use: Personal relationships
Tone: Competitive, Professional
Context Variability: Professional “The team is pushing the pace on this project.”
16. Phrase: Get Going
Meaning: Start moving or start a task.
Explanation: Gentle alternative that implies getting underway.
Example Sentence: “Let’s get going the meeting starts in ten minutes.”
Best Use: Encouraging action
Worst Use: Formal situations
Tone: Encouraging, Gentle
Context Variability: Casual “We should get going to beat the traffic.”
17. Phrase: Get a Wiggle On
Meaning: Hurry up (playful expression).
Explanation: Very casual and sometimes old-fashioned.
Example Sentence: “Get a wiggle on dinner’s almost ready!”
Best Use: Playful contexts
Worst Use: Professional settings
Tone: Playful, Lighthearted
Context Variability: Casual “Come on, get a wiggle on!”
18. Phrase: Hasten
Meaning: Move or act more quickly.
Explanation: Formal, slightly literary word.
Example Sentence: “We must hasten the implementation of the new system.”
Best Use: Formal writing
Worst Use: Everyday speech
Tone: Formal, Literary
Context Variability: Professional “We shall hasten the recovery process.”
19. Phrase: Rush
Meaning: Move or act with great speed.
Explanation: Direct but can imply carelessness.
Example Sentence: “We need to rush this order to the customer.”
Best Use: Emergency situations
Worst Use: Quality-focused contexts
Tone: Urgent, Immediate
Context Variability: Professional “Rush the shipment, please.”
20. Phrase: Push Forward
Meaning: Make progress more quickly.
Explanation: Implies continued momentum rather than immediate speed.
Example Sentence: “We need to push forward on this initiative.”
Best Use: Project contexts
Worst Use: Time-critical emergencies
Tone: Progressive, Motivated
Context Variability: Professional “Let’s push forward with the implementation.”
“Professional urgency creates momentum without creating stress.”
21. Phrase: Turn Up the Heat
Meaning: Increase pressure to speed progress.
Explanation: A business expression meaning to apply more pressure.
Example Sentence: “We’ll need to turn up the heat to meet this deadline.”
Best Use: Business contexts
Worst Use: Personal encouragement
Tone: Competitive, Direct
Context Variability: Professional “Time to turn up the heat on this project.”
22. Phrase: Work Faster
Meaning: Direct request to increase speed.
Explanation: Simple and clear, though somewhat blunt.
Example Sentence: “Could you work faster on this task, please?”
Best Use: Work contexts
Worst Use: Sensitive situations
Tone: Direct, Clear
Context Variability: Professional “We need to work faster to meet the deadline.”
23. Phrase: Catch Up
Meaning: Reach the same level or speed as others.
Explanation: Implies falling behind rather than being slow.
Example Sentence: “We need to catch up with the other teams.”
Best Use: Team comparisons
Worst Use: Individual pressure
Tone: Comparative, Motivating
Context Variability: Professional “Let’s catch up with market trends.”
24. Phrase: Move Along
Meaning: Continue progressing, often with speed.
Explanation: Gentle encouragement to keep moving.
Example Sentence: “Let’s move along we have a lot to cover today.”
Best Use: Meetings, presentations
Worst Use: Emergency situations
Tone: Encouraging, Gentle
Context Variability: Professional “Let’s move along to the next item.”
25. Phrase: Wind It Up
Meaning: Bring something to a quicker conclusion.
Explanation: Very casual, often used in meetings.
Example Sentence: “Let’s wind it up and get to lunch.”
Best Use: Informal meetings
Worst Use: Formal documents
Tone: Casual, Direct
Context Variability: Casual “Time to wind this up.”
26. Phrase: Wrap It Up
Meaning: Finish something quickly.
Explanation: Very common in professional and casual contexts.
Example Sentence: “We’ll need to wrap up this project by Friday.”
Best Use: Project completion
Worst Use: Starting tasks
Tone: Direct, Finalizing
Context Variability: Professional “Let’s wrap up the meeting.”
27. Phrase: Move Quickly
Meaning: Act with greater speed.
Explanation: A neutral, clear alternative.
Example Sentence: “We must move quickly on this opportunity.”
Best Use: Professional advice
Worst Use: Conversations
Tone: Professional, Urgent
Context Variability: Professional “We need to move quickly to secure the deal.”
28. Phrase: Keep Up
Meaning: Maintain the same pace as others.
Explanation: Implies the need to match speed with a group.
Example Sentence: “Try to keep up with the rest of the group.”
Best Use: Group activities
Worst Use: Official requests
Tone: Encouraging, Direct
Context Variability: Casual “Keep up, everyone!”
29. Phrase: Not Wait
Meaning: Emphasizes immediacy without being too direct.
Explanation: More of a direction to not delay.
Example Sentence: “We can’t wait any longer we must act now.”
Best Use: Emergency situations
Worst Use: Regular conversations
Tone: Urgent, Critical
Context Variability: Professional “We cannot wait for further instructions.”
30. Phrase: Optimize
Meaning: Make the process more efficient and faster.
Explanation: Professional, positive way to encourage speed.
Example Sentence: “Let’s optimize our workflow to save time.”
Best Use: Process improvement
Worst Use: Personal situations
Tone: Strategic, Professional
Context Variability: Professional “We’re optimizing for speed this quarter.”
“Choose urgency words that empower rather than pressure.”
Mini Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
1. In a formal business email, which is most appropriate?
- A) Get a move on
- B) Expedite
- C) Chop-chop
- D) Step on it
Answer: B Expedite is professional and formal.
2. You need to encourage your friend who is moving slowly. What’s best?
- A) Expedite your walk
- B) We should hasten
- C) Pick up the pace
- D) Accelerate
Answer: C Pick up the pace is friendly and direct.
3. Which phrase is most likely to sound rude in the workplace?
- A) We need to accelerate
- B) Could we move faster?
- C) Hurry up
- D) Let’s expedite
Answer: C Hurry up is too casual and demanding.
Comparison Table: Top 10 Alternatives
| Phrase | Tone | Best Use |
| Expedite | Formal, Professional | Business emails |
| Accelerate | Strategic, Formal | Project management |
| Pick Up the Pace | Neutral, Encouraging | Team motivation |
| Prioritize | Professional, Organized | Task management |
| Fast-Track | Professional, Efficient | Time-sensitive projects |
| Streamline | Strategic, Process-focused | System improvement |
| Get a Move On | Casual, Urgent | Friends and family |
| Step on It | Direct, Urgent | Driving contexts |
| Shake a Leg | Playful, Lighthearted | Informal situations |
| Move Quickly | Professional, Clear | Business advice |
FAQs
1. What is the most professional way to say hurry up?
“Expedite” and “accelerate” are the most professional alternatives. They convey urgency without sounding demanding or rude.
2. Can I say “hurry up” in an email?
Generally no it’s too informal and can sound rude. Use “expedite,” “accelerate,” or “prioritize” instead.
3. What does “chop-chop” mean?
It’s a playful, casual way to say hurry up, often used with children or in joking contexts. It comes from Chinese pidgin English.
4. Is “pick up the pace” appropriate in professional settings?
Yes, it’s neutral enough for most workplace situations, though “expedite” is more formal.
5. How do you politely say hurry up?
Try “Could we speed things up?” or “Would you be able to prioritize this?” These are polite and respectful.
Conclusion
Mastering alternatives to hurry up is essential for effective professional communication and building better relationships. The 30 alternatives we’ve explored allow you to express urgency in English at the right level of formality for every situation.
Remember that the best communicators create urgency without creating stress. Choose words that motivate rather than pressure, and always consider your relationship with the listener. Practice using these alternatives to hurry up in different contexts until they feel natural. Your professional reputation and personal relationships will benefit from the nuance and respect you demonstrate.
