play a waiting game
To postpone or delay a decision or course of action so as to first see what might happen or what one's opponent(s) might do. The market is so tumultuous at the moment that I think we're better off playing a waiting game, rather than making any hasty decisions. The prosecution is playing a waiting game to see if the defendant will change her mind about taking the plea bargain.
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play a waiting game
Delay an action or decision so as to force an opponent to move or to gain additional information. For example, The lawyer advised her to play a waiting game and see if her husband would come up with more alimony . [Late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
play a waiting game
employ the tactic of refraining from action for a time in order to act more effectively at a later date or stage. 2003 E. L. Skip Knox The Punic Wars If the Romans were to play a waiting game, refusing to meet him in open battle, then his plans would go awry.
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