In a hurry means rushing because you don't have much time; I'm in a hurry means I need to be quick. You can be in a hurry to get somewhere: She was in a hurry to get home. Or you can do something in a hurry, too quickly and without care: I wrote the email in a hurry and made a few typos. The phrase is neutral and fits any situation.
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be in a hurry; be in a hurry + to + verb; do something in a hurry; be in no hurry (to + verb)
- She left the office in a hurry and forgot her laptop on the desk.
- We were in a hurry to catch the last train, so we took a taxi.
- There's no deadline, so I'm in no hurry to finish the translation.
What changed
First versionSorry, I can't talk now; I'm hurry.
RevisionSorry, I can't talk now; I'm in a hurry.
Hurry is a verb (to hurry) or a noun (a hurry), not an adjective, so it can't go straight after I'm. You need the fixed phrase in a hurry. I'm hurrying is also possible, but it is less common in this situation. The only change is adding in a.
Hurry up is a call to move faster: Hurry up, the film is starting. In a hurry describes a state: someone is rushing. In no hurry means the opposite, there is no need to rush: I'm in no hurry, so take your time.
Your turn
The meeting starts in two minutes and he's still looking for a parking space, so he's ___.
Show the answer
in a hurry — The meeting starts in two minutes and he is still looking for a parking space, so he is rushing: in a hurry. In no hurry would mean he has plenty of time, which contradicts the situation.
Think of a morning when you were running late. Write a sentence with in a hurry: say where you were rushing to and what you forgot or did too quickly.
I was in a hurry to get to my job interview, so I left my umbrella on the bus.
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