buy time
Postpone the inevitable
To buy time is to delay something in order to gain more time before an outcome, deadline, or confrontation: We need to buy time until reinforcements arrive.
The phrase suggests a strategic postponement rather than a permanent solution—creating breathing room when circumstances are pressing.
Enforced waiting period
- postponementDelaying to later
- extensionAdded part or duration
- defermentAuthorized delay of obligation
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
suspension · adjournment · continuance · grace period · breathing room · breather · respite · pause
Intentional delay tactics
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
diversion · misdirection · stonewalling · obfuscation · evasion · feigning · bluffing · red herring
Time limit for completion
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- crunchCrushing, grinding noise
- pressureForce upon contact
- ticking clockClock making sound
eleventh hour · last minute · running out · expiration · looming · imminence · against the clock
Skillful directional control
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
negotiation · anticipation · preparation · resourcefulness · gambit · tactical retreat · fallback · scheming
delay
Enforced waiting period
- postponementDelaying to later
- extensionAdded part or duration
- defermentAuthorized delay of obligation
moratorium · suspension · adjournment · continuance · grace period · breathing room · breather · respite · pause · hiatus
stalling
Intentional delay tactics
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
distraction · diversion · misdirection · stonewalling · obfuscation · evasion · feigning · bluffing · red herring · runaround
deadline
Time limit for completion
ticking clock · eleventh hour · last minute · running out · expiration · looming · imminence · against the clock
maneuvering
Skillful directional control
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- positioningArranging in specific locations
leverage · negotiation · anticipation · preparation · resourcefulness · gambit · tactical retreat · fallback · scheming · outmaneuvering
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- time sayingscarpe diem, seize the day, better late than never, tempus fugit, haste makes waste
- patience phraseswait, hold on, just a minute, one moment, one second
- resistresist, oppose, defy, rebuff, refuse
buy timeaccelerate
Increase in velocity
rush · expedite · hasten · bring to a head · fast-track
buy timecommit
Bind to a course
take the plunge · pull the trigger · bite the bullet · decide · make a decision
time, buy, buying, bought, buyer, timely, timed, timing, buy off