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What is the difference between the following two sentences.

There was not a moment to be lost.

There was not a moment to lose.

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There is no significant difference in meaning. The "to be lost" form is slightly more formal, and perhaps a bit more old-fashioned, but neither would seem odd in current speech, I think. Yet more informal would be

There was no time to lose.

This is not quite as forceful -- "not a moment" emphasizes that not even the smallest bit of time could be spared.

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