to punt on

Examples

• All

• I'd rather punt on this question and just ask, again, if classlessness is a goal of the left.

  Blog text (24)

• Yeah, guys, we punted on this question.

  Bussin' With The Boys

• Yeah, I may have to punt on that question.

• Well, I mean, I've historically tended to punt on the the question of like as between these three.

• While it was ducking those big decisions, Congress has also punted on a series of smaller budget measures that will have to be decided by next year.

  Blog text (22)

• Bourg said the task force effectively punted on two topics: library redesign and open access.

  Academic text (2016)

• The committee decided to punt on the difficult issue until next month.

• After much discussion, we agreed to punt on making a final decision for now.

• He chose to punt on that controversial topic during the meeting.

Synonyms

H

to hold off

vsto punt on

78 3.8

To wait before doing something

usually denotes delaying to avoid a firm commitment while unsure

H

to hold off on

vsto punt on

37 4.2

To wait before doing something

often implies postponing to avoid commitment until things become clearer

S

to sit on

vsto punt on

34 4.2

Delay making a decision about something while thinking about it

tends to delay mainly to avoid commitment when clarity is missing

S

to sleep on it

vsto punt on

26 3.7

To delay making a decision until the next day to think about it

is more about short timed reflection than avoiding commitment indefinitely

H

to have to punt

vsto punt on

• Informal

1 9.2

To delay deciding for now because it is difficult or unclear

focuses on postponing to escape commitment rather than deciding immediately

S

to sit on a decision

vsto punt on

4.2

Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing

is used when delay avoids commitment because the situation is unclear

K

to kick into touch

vsto punt on

• UK

8.9

To put a plan aside and often leave it without action

typically means a shorter postponement aimed at avoiding commitment while awaiting clarity

Antonyms

D

to decide

∞ 1.0

To make a choice after thinking about the options

A

to act

∞ 1.0

Take action to deal with a problem or situation

How Delayed

to shelve

11 5.0

to punt on

• Informal

1 8.2

to put off

113 2.9

to defer

• Formal

15 5.5

to delay

562 1.4

to postpone

234 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology