holding actions
Tactics buying time
Holding actions are defensive measures designed to delay an enemy or maintain a position until reinforcements arrive or a better strategy can be implemented.
The term comes from military tactics but extends to any situation where the goal is buying time rather than achieving victory: The lawyers filed motions as holding actions while they built their case.
A holding action acknowledges you can't win now but prevents losing.
- delayEnforced waiting period
- rearguardTroops protecting retreating forces
- fighting retreatOrderly withdrawal under fire
- strategic withdrawalCalculated military retreat
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
containment · blockade · attrition · defense · stalemate · tactics · resistance · retreat · fall back position · last stand · deterrence · damage control · fortification · skirmish · buying time · stand · delaying tactics · military
holding actionsoffensive operations
Attacks to gain ground
offensive push · attack · assault · advance · offensive
holding actionsdecisive action
Firm choice, promptly executed
knockout blow · finishing move · coup de grâce · final push · resolution
holding actionsbreakthrough
Sudden important advance
pursuit · exploitation · surge · territorial expansion · conquest
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