playing for time
Buying more minutes
Playing for time is deliberately stalling or delaying to gain an advantage or avoid an unfavorable outcome.
The phrase suggests tactical postponement rather than genuine engagement: The negotiators were just playing for time while their allies mobilized.
Someone playing for time hopes circumstances will change in their favor if they can avoid immediate action or decision.
- temporizingDeliberately delaying decision-making
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- postponingRescheduling for later
strategizing · long game · running out the clock · bluffing · procrastination · dragging one's feet · treading water · deferral · hedging · foot-dragging · slow walking · distraction · misdirection · pausing · dithering · delay of game · avoidance · diversion
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- delay tacticsstalling, delaying tactic, procrastination, postponement, deferral
playing for timepulling the trigger
biting the bullet · taking the bull by the horns · taking the plunge · cutting to the chase · grasping the nettle
playing for timerushing
Rapid forward movement
fast-tracking · expediting · hurrying · pushing ahead · accelerating
playing for timefacing the music
Accepting responsibility for actions
laying cards on the table · coming out swinging · having it out · coming clean
play, playing, played, plays, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness