stall for time

stall for time

1. To create a delay or distraction in order to gain additional time. My presentation was totally worthless without my slides, so all I could do was stall for time until Mary got the projector working again. The judge accused the prosecutor of stalling for time.

2. To delay or distract someone or something with evasive or prevaricating language or behavior in order to gain time. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "stall" and "for." He kept talking to stall the criminal for time until the police arrived.

See also: for, stall, time

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

stall for time

to cause a delay intentionally. You are just stalling for time. Please hurry. she is stalling for time, hoping someone will rescue her.

See also: for, stall, time

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.