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Asking about a deadline in English (advanced)
Advanced English for asking about a deadline. Key line: “Sorry, could you remind me when this is meant to be submitted?”
Full script
Lin
Sorry, could you remind me when this is meant to be submitted?
Them
Sure—it's due by Friday at noon, not end of day.
Lin
Noon noon? I was really hoping for one of those mysterious midnight deadlines.
Them
Afraid not; the team wants a buffer before the weekend chaos kicks in.
Lin
Got it—if I'm cutting it close, is noon the hard cutoff?
Them
Yeah, after twelve it rolls to the next review round, which is rough.
Lin
Then I'd better send it early and spare myself a dramatic timestamp.
Them
Wise move—our system loves drama, and it always stars the last minute.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
remind me
✓ Could you remind me... ?Could you remind me... ?
More polite than asking directly
supposed to submit
✓ meant to be submittedsupposed to be handed in
meant to = required to
almost late
✓ cutting it closecutting it close
Used when time is very tight
firm cutoff
✓ hard cutoffhard cutoff
Miss it and it won't count
Quick answers
remind me: what to say in English
Say “Could you remind me... ?” — could you remind me... . More polite than asking directly.
supposed to submit: what to say in English
Say “meant to be submitted” — supposed to be handed in. meant to = required to.
almost late: what to say in English
Say “cutting it close” — cutting it close. Used when time is very tight.
firm cutoff: what to say in English
Say “hard cutoff” — hard cutoff. Miss it and it won't count.