play for time
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Related to play for time: time being, run out of time, at the latest, at no time, time is ripe, stand the test of time, Until Next Time
play for time
To delay (something) or stall (someone) in order to gain more time. My computer crashed just as the meeting began, so I had to play for time while I waited for it to reboot. One of the first principles of hostage negotiation is to play for time at every opportunity.
play for time
Fig. to stall; to act in such a way as to gain time. I'll play for time while you sneak out the window. The lawyers for the defense were playing for time while they looked for a witness.
play for time
Use delaying tactics, temporize, as in The defense attorney decided to play for time while they searched for an eyewitness. [c. 1940]
play for time
COMMON If you play for time, you try to delay something so that you can have more time to be ready for it. Pierce was playing for time, trying to decide if the call was genuine or not. The government is playing for time by asking for a new report.
play for time
use specious excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time.play for ˈtime
try to delay something or prevent something from happening now because you think there will be an advantage to you if you act later: If I can play for time a bit longer, they might lower their price.play for time
To use delaying tactics; temporize.