mark time
Stall without progress
Mark time is to move one's feet in a marching rhythm without advancing—soldiers mark time while waiting for orders.
The phrase extends to any period of waiting or inactivity before progress can resume: She marked time in a dead-end job while waiting for graduate school to start.
The sense is of motion without forward movement.
Temporary cessation of activity
- waitDelay until later
- holdMaintain in grasp
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- delayEnforced waiting period
idle · tread water · stand by · hang fire · sit tight · limbo · hiatus · interlude
Rhythmic group walk
- drillHole-boring device
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- formationCreation or arrangement
- paradeCeremonial public procession
step · footwork · rhythm · synchronization · in place · drill sergeant · parade ground · boot camp
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
delay · idle · tread water · stand by · hang fire · sit tight · limbo · hiatus · interlude · intermission
march
Rhythmic group walk
parade · step · footwork · rhythm · synchronization · in place · drill sergeant · parade ground · boot camp · precision
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
pulse · meter · conductor · baton · metronome · downbeat · upbeat · measure · cue · orchestra
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- waitingwait, await, bide, hold on, hang on
- military marchingquick march, slow march, half step, goose step, funeral march
- bandsbrass bands, concert band, symphonic band, military bands, concert bands
- doing nothingdo nothing, stand still, sit tight, stay put, keep still
- clock actionsset alarm, snooze, calibrate, synchronize, spring forward
mark timeadvance
Move or progress forward
progress · move forward · forge ahead · push forward · make headway
mark timeact
Deed or performance
take action · get moving · spring into action · strike · seize the moment
time, mark, marker, marked, marks, remark, remarkable, landmark, marking