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Glite Dictionary
to punt the project

to punt the project

8.8
Delay a project to work on more important tasks
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : posponer el proyecto
  • Due to budget cuts, they had to punt the project until next year.

Examples

  • After the client changed their requirements, the team decided to punt the project for now.

  • Instead of rushing, we might as well punt the project and focus on urgent deadlines.

  • We need to punt the project until next quarter.

  • Don't punt the project again!

  • After the client changed their requirements, the team decided to punt the project for now.

  • Due to budget cuts, they had to punt the project until next year.

  • Instead of rushing, we might as well punt the project and focus on urgent deadlines.

Synonyms

to put off
vsto punt the project
113 2.9

Delay something until a later time

postpones the project specifically to focus on other priorities
to defer
vsto punt the project
  • Formal
15 5.5

To delay something until a later time

postpones the project specifically to focus on other priorities
to put on ice
vsto punt the project
11 5.8

To delay a plan or project for a while

is chosen to free attention for more immediate priorities
to put on the back burner
vsto punt the project
1 5.6

To delay dealing with something until later and make it less important

is about postponing to concentrate resources on other priorities
to punt on
vsto punt the project
  • Informal
1 8.2

Delay deciding about something to avoid commitment

postpones the project to shift attention to higher priorities
to bench the project
vsto punt the project
6.3

To stop work on a project for a time until things change

is chosen to free time or resources for other priorities
to mothball a project
vsto punt the project
7.0

To stop work on a project for a time and start it again later

is a shorter or priority-driven postponement rather than long preservation
to kick into touch
vsto punt the project
  • UK
8.9

To put a plan aside and often leave it without action

means delaying to address other priorities rather than abandoning it

Antonyms

to commit
706 3.4

To give time, money, or effort to something

to initiate
426 4.5

To start something such as a project or discussion

How Delayed

to shelve
11 5.0
on hold
169 2.5
to punt the project
  • Informal
8.8
to delay
562 1.4
to postpone
234 3.4
to pause
346 1.0

Surface Forms

punt the project infinitive
punted the project past
punted the project past participle
punting the project present participle
punts the project third person singular

Morphology

punt + the + project

The core senses of 'punt' given (to bet or to kick) do not literally mean 'postpone', but English business slang extends the verb metaphorically to mean 'defer' or 'pass the decision on' (as in 'punt the project'). This metaphorical relation is partially inferable from the idea of kicking or pushing something away, but it is not fully predictable to a B1 learner who only knows the basic senses, so the expression is best considered semi-transparent.

Etymology

The phrase punt the project comes from American football: to punt is to kick the ball away when a risky play might fail, which buys time or avoids a bad move. So to punt the project means to set the project aside or 'postpone' it until later.