to stall for time
6
4.8
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
ganar tiempo
- "Why Austin?" I say, stalling for time.
- just stalling for time
- trying to stall for time
- know you're stalling for time
Examples
-
Some critics even argued that the Bush administration viewed the whole UN exercise as a way to stall for time until America's military force became operational.
Academic text (2003) -
She tried to stall for time by asking the teacher about the assignment.
-
We need to stall for time here.
-
So you stay here and stall for time.
-
John looked at his notes, mostly to stall for time.
Fiction book (1992) -
When all else has failed, stall for time.
Fiction book (1995) -
I was just stalling for time.
-
"Found how?" I asked, stalling for time to think.
Fiction book (1999) -
If Congress drags their feet on this, it means that Republicans are stalling for time.
Blog text (17) -
Lev knows he is supposed to ask about the dream, but to stall for time he edges out of bed and into his slippers.
Fiction book (1993)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To stay in one place or delay action until something happens
562
1.4
To make something happen later than planned
166
4.3
To delay doing something on purpose to get more time
83
3.9
To delay doing something until someone answers or a situation changes
78
3.8
To wait before doing something
71
2.5
To spend time doing nothing while waiting for someone or something
37
4.2
To wait before doing something
34
4.2
Delay making a decision about something while thinking about it
23
4.1
To delay something on purpose to get more time to prepare
17
5.0
Move or act slowly and waste time, causing delay
16
3.5
Wait before doing something because you feel unsure
13
7.3
To delay discussion or a decision about something until later
4
7.7
To waste time by moving or acting slowly
4
5.0
To delay on purpose to get more time before deciding or acting
3
6.3
Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things
3
7.5
Do something slowly on purpose and without hurry
2
9.3
To delay making a decision to gain time or avoid conflict
1
5.6
To delay dealing with something until later and make it less important
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
9.2
To delay deciding for now because it is difficult or unclear
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 delay longer than you should and risk missing something
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
To wait doing nothing because you are delayed or bored
To wait before acting and risk losing a chance
Antonyms
How Delaying
11
5.0
- Informal
- Informal
6
4.8
23
4.1
234
3.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'stall' already means to delay, and the prepositional phrase 'for time' clearly expresses purpose/duration ('in order to gain time'), so the overall meaning is directly derivable from the parts. This composition follows a regular English pattern (verb + for + noun indicating purpose) and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The phrase stall for time comes from the verb stall meaning to stop or hold and the idea of keeping time while you wait, like using small talk to keep someone talking so the minutes pass. So, stall for time means 'to delay' on purpose.