play for time
Postpone the inevitable
To play for time is to delay or stall in order to gain an advantage or avoid an unfavorable outcome.
The phrase suggests tactical postponement rather than genuine progress: The defense attorney played for time, hoping new evidence would surface.
Someone playing for time isn't solving the problem—they're betting that circumstances will change.
- stonewallRefuse to cooperate
- lingerStay beyond necessity
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- run out the clockDeliberately consume remaining time
- temporizingDeliberately delaying decision-making
filibuster · delay · kick the can down the road · dilly-dallying · foot-dragging · prevarication · hem and haw · beat around the bush · equivocation · hang fire · prolong · pause · deferral · hold off · holding pattern · procrastination · slow walk · wait
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
play for timestrike while the iron is hot
Act when conditions favor
seize the moment · act now · jump in · spring into action · make a move
play for timetake the bull by the horns
Confront a difficulty directly
face the music · lay one's cards on the table · have it out · cut to the chase · grasp the nettle
play, time, replay, wordplay, interplay, screenplay, cosplay, playback, foreplay