stalling tactics
Playing for time
Stalling tactics are deliberate actions to delay or obstruct progress, buying time while appearing to engage.
Politicians use stalling tactics to prevent votes; negotiators use them to wear down opponents: The defense's stalling tactics dragged the trial out for months.
The phrase implies bad faith—someone avoiding resolution rather than working toward it.
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- playing for timeDeliberate delay tactic
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
obstructing · dragging · hesitation · evasion · hedging · foot-dragging · slow walking · buying time · running out the clock · running down the clock · red tape · bureaucracy · dodge · deflection · avoidance · smoke screen · circling the wagons · runaround
- empty promiseslip service, broken vows, false hope, hot air, overpromising
stalling tacticsrapid response
Fast action to emergencies
fast-tracking · urgency · acceleration · rushing · haste
stalling tacticsdirect action
Confrontational political tactics
bluntness · cutting to the chase · getting to the point · direct approach · confrontation
stalling tacticsfacilitation
Making tasks easier
cooperation · expediting · enabling · collaboration · streamlining
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