stalling
Deliberately wasting time
Stalling is delaying or buying time, often to avoid commitment or confrontation: Quit stalling and give me an answer.
The word comes from stall, where an engine loses power and stops—so stalling can mean that mechanical failure, or the deliberate act of causing it: The plane kept stalling on takeoff.
In negotiations or conversations, stalling is a tactic: He's just stalling until his lawyer arrives.
Delaying tactic through speech
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
- time-wastingUnproductive use of hours
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- diversionRedirection of attention
prevarication · circumlocution · obfuscation · smokescreen · runaround · rope-a-dope
Theft by threat
- postponementDelaying to later
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
slowdown · lag · latency · setback · adjournment · moratorium · hiatus · interlude
Complete mutual obstruction
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- logjamObstruction halting flow
blockage · congestion · snarl-up · chokepoint · standstill · jam · stoppage · backup
Starting combustion process
- carburetorEngine fuel-air mixer
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- idleWithout activity or purpose
- misfireFailure to discharge
sputtering · restart · breakdown · cutout
Showing unsteady resolve
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
- vacillationInability to choose
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
reluctance · tentativeness · ambivalence · second-guessing · equivocation · dithering · hedging · balking
filibuster
Delaying tactic through speech
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
- time-wastingUnproductive use of hours
- evasionAct of escaping detection
diversion · prevarication · circumlocution · obfuscation · smokescreen · runaround · rope-a-dope
holdup
Theft by threat
- postponementDelaying to later
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- waitingRemaining in expectation
standstill · slowdown · lag · latency · setback · adjournment · moratorium · hiatus · interlude · suspension
gridlock
Complete mutual obstruction
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
logjam · blockage · congestion · snarl-up · chokepoint · standstill · jam · stoppage · backup
ignition
Starting combustion process
- carburetorEngine fuel-air mixer
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- idleWithout activity or purpose
misfire · sputtering · restart · breakdown · cutout
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
- vacillationInability to choose
faltering · reluctance · tentativeness · ambivalence · second-guessing · equivocation · dithering · hedging · balking · foot-dragging
airspeed
Aircraft's atmospheric velocity
aerodynamics · drag · rudder · aileron · elevator · throttle · altitude · glide · turbulence · pitch
- car problemsflat tire, dead battery, engine light, check engine, brake failure
- Equipment Problemsrust, corrosion, wear, deterioration, breakdown
- hesitatingpausing, wavering, faltering, delaying, dithering
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- strategiesambush, flanking, feint, diversion, counterattack
- delay tacticsdelaying tactic, procrastination, postponement, deferral, buying time
stallingadvancing
Moving in forward direction
progressing · moving forward · accelerating · proceeding · pushing ahead
stallingacting
Temporarily holding position
deciding · committing · expediting · hastening · rushing
- stalling for timeDeliberate delay tactics
- stalling outCeasing to function suddenly
- stalling tacticsMethods to postpone action