Words before a deadline

As a detective trying to solve the mystery of the crossword clue “Words before a deadline,” the first step in my investigation was to examine the number of letters, which were just five. This led me to believe that the answer was likely to be a common phrase or expression in the English language. I then reviewed the other clues on the crossword puzzle and identified that several of them related to time, deadlines, or timeliness, which suggested that the answer was also likely to be time-related. After analyzing the letters in the clue, I developed several ideas, including “Hurry Up,” “Don’t be Late,” and “Time is Up.” However, after further analysis, I realized that none of them fit as they were either too long or lacked the required letters. It was then that the word “DUEBY” came to mind, such a clear and direct five-letter phrase that conveys a sense of urgency in meeting a deadline. It was the perfect fit for the crossword clue, and after testing it against the other clues on the puzzle, it turned out to be the correct answer, bringing an end to my detective work and solving the mystery.