delay tactics
Intentional time wasting
Delay tactics are deliberate methods of slowing down a process or postponing a decision.
The phrase often implies bad faith—stalling to gain advantage, avoid accountability, or frustrate an opponent: The defense used delay tactics to wear down the prosecution.
In legislative contexts, filibustering is a classic delay tactic.
The singular delay tactic describes a specific maneuver.
- foot-draggingDeliberate slowness or resistance
- dragging one's feetIntentionally slowing progress
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- running out the clockConsuming remaining game time strategically
- playing for timeDeliberate delay tactic
stay of proceedings · postponement · stonewalling · bureaucratic inertia · runaround · filibusters · procrastination · obstruction · hindrance · holding pattern · slow walking · waiting game · deferral · dawdling · red tape · passive resistance · rope-a-dope · malingering
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, civil service
- strategy tacticsplanning, scheming, positioning, timing, bluffing
- procrastination jokesfive more minutes, homework avoidance
- obstructionobstruction, roadblock, blockade, barricade, bottleneck
- self-control techniquesmeditation, deep breathing, counting to ten, mindfulness, postponement
- tactical methodsambush, flanking, feint, diversion, siege
delay tacticsfast-tracking
Accelerating a procedure's timeline
acceleration · rushing · haste · urgency · speed
delay tacticsexpediting
Making progress faster
cooperation · facilitation · streamlining · enabling · collaboration
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