waiting game
Deliberate delay tactic
A waiting game is a strategy of deliberate inaction, holding back until circumstances shift in your favor.
The idea is that patience itself becomes a tactic—letting time work on your opponent or situation rather than forcing immediate action: The union played a waiting game, knowing management would eventually need to negotiate.
Often appears as play a waiting game.
- biding timeDelaying action strategically
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- cat-and-mouseProlonged strategic pursuit
- patienceCalm during delays
- delayEnforced waiting period
forbearance · turtling · brinkmanship · vigil · anticipation · strategy · tension · restraint · stalemate · suspense · expectation · slow burn · delayed gratification · passive resistance · war of attrition · liminality · lingering · limbo
- Idle Phrasesidle hands, twiddling thumbs, killing time, at rest, doing nothing
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- being ignoredghosting, unread messages, no reply, silence, cold shoulder
- delay tacticsstalling, delaying tactic, procrastination, postponement, deferral
waiting gamedirect action
Confrontational political tactics
blitz · rush · offensive · preemptive strike · frontal assault
waiting gameshowdown
Decisive final confrontation
frontal assault · direct attack · face-off · offensive strategy · power play
waiting gamebold move
Audacious action with risk
gamble · all-in · calculated risk · Hail Mary · going for broke
game, wait, waiting, waiter, gaming, await, awaiting, waits, waited