to play for time
4
5.0
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
ganar tiempo
- She was trying to play for time while thinking of a suitable response.
- playing for time, hoping
- just playing for time
- simply playing for time
Examples
-
She began to play for time.
Fiction book (1993) -
Chun concludes that North Korea has routinely used crisis diplomacy, brinkmanship, and delay to play for time in unfavorable circumstances.
Academic text (2000) -
We must play for time.
-
Playing for time, are you?
-
We're not ready, we're on our own, and we've been playing for time.
-
Tsvangirai and others are now playing for time.
Academic text (2010) -
He's playing for time trying to save his miserable skin.
-
It looks as if Hector is playing for time.
Fiction book (1993) -
The regime tried to use this tactic to play for time in the midst of a rebellion that had taken it by surprise, as well as to justify the high number of civilians killed by the security services and pro-government armed groups.
Academic text (2012) -
"While it is possible that the Taliban are simply playing for time in seeking to reinvigorate the diplomatic track," Eastham wrote, "it is at least possible that they—some of them—are serious about finding a peaceful way out."
Academic text (2010)
Synonyms
166
4.3
To delay doing something on purpose to get more time
71
2.5
To spend time doing nothing while waiting for someone or something
23
4.1
To delay something on purpose to get more time to prepare
16
3.5
Wait before doing something because you feel unsure
6
4.8
To delay doing something to get more time
3
7.5
Do something slowly on purpose and without hurry
3
6.3
Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things
2
9.3
To delay making a decision to gain time or avoid conflict
1
6.1
Delay something on purpose to have more time before a decision
1
7.0
To wait longer than someone else to get an advantage
1
6.7
Use extra time on purpose so the other side cannot act
1
8.3
To waste time by being slow or unsure about what to do
1
8.6
Wait too long to act and miss a chance
Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing
To be slow on purpose because you do not want to do something
To delay doing something because you do not want to do it
Wait for a good chance before acting
Antonyms
How Long
- Literature
42
7.8
- Informal
23
5.1
- Informal
4
5.0
11
6.2
8
7.7
318
2.5
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to deliberately delay' can be reasonably inferred by combining 'play' (act/manipulate) with 'for' (for the purpose of) + 'time' (a period) — i.e. 'act in order to gain time'. However, the interpretation relies on an extended, somewhat idiomatic sense of 'play' and a fixed collocation 'play for time', so comprehension is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrasal verb play for time may come from the image of someone plays a game or a tune just to use up time while they wait for help or a better moment. So, it now means 'to delay or stall' to gain more time.