ἐβούλοντο φθῆναι ἐξεργασάμενοι

From LSJ

αὐτὸν κέκρουκας τὸν βατῆρα τοῦ λόγου → you have struck the very threshold of the argument, you have struck the most important and chiefmost point

Source

English > Greek (Woodhouse Quotes Reversed)

they wanted to get the work done in time