running down the clock
Delay until finished
Running down the clock is deliberately letting time expire rather than taking action, especially in sports when a team with the lead avoids scoring opportunities to prevent the opponent from getting the ball back: They ran down the clock with a series of short runs.
The strategy extends beyond sports to any situation where delay serves your interests—a politician running down the clock on a legislative session, or a defendant's lawyer dragging out proceedings: The defense was clearly running down the clock until the witness left the country.
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- time-wastingUnproductive use of hours
- pressure tacticsMethods forcing quick decisions
- sandbaggingFeigning weakness strategically
delay of game · ball control · prevent defense · pacing · slow walk · killing time · garbage time · taking a knee · anticipation · mental fatigue · psychological warfare · deceleration · buffering · procrastination · hesitation · filibuster · time dilation
running down the clockgoing for the kill
Pursuing a finishing move
hurry-up offense · fast break · pressing · attacking · going all out
running down the clockthrowing caution to the wind
taking risks · swinging for the fences · seizing the initiative · Hail Mary · gambling
running, runner, runners, downed, downing, downer, clock, clocks, clocked