Play for time ▶️⏳

Meaning

To delay something or act slowly to gain more time before a decision or action is required.

Origin

Imagine a tense chess match. One player, realizing they're about to lose, starts making deliberately slow, seemingly meaningless moves. They're not trying to win; they're just trying to run down the clock, hoping their opponent makes a mistake or perhaps for a distraction to arise. This strategy, common in competitive games, transferred to everyday life. Whether it's a politician ducking a difficult question with a long-winded answer or someone stalling before confessing bad news, the core idea is the same: prolonging the present moment to avoid an immediate, undesirable consequence.

⏳🕰️ time 🎭🤥 deception ☠️ risk

Play for time represented with emoji▶️⏳

This playful arrangement functions as a delightful prompt, encouraging us to consider how we navigate the urgency of life. It invites a dialogue on the clever art of delaying the inevitable, transforming a simple action into a miniature philosophical musing on time itself.

Examples

  • The lawyer tried to play for time by asking for more evidence.
  • He knew he was losing the argument, so he started to play for time.
  • The squirrel decided to play for time by pretending to admire a particularly shiny acorn.
  • The knight feigned a bout of the hiccups to play for time before facing the dragon.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'play for time' an idiom or a proverb?

'Play for time' is an idiom, meaning its figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning of its words. Proverbs, on the other hand, are typically short, well-known sayings that offer advice or state a general truth.

What's the opposite of 'play for time'?

The opposite of 'play for time' would be to 'act quickly' or 'seize the moment.' These phrases imply taking immediate action rather than delaying.

Can you 'play for time' in sports other than chess?

Yes, the concept of 'playing for time' exists in many sports where letting the clock run down can be an advantage, such as basketball teams holding onto a lead by dribbling the ball, or a soccer team trying to prevent the other team from scoring by keeping possession in a corner.

Similar to "play for time"

Drag your feet
Both involve delaying, but 'drag your feet' suggests an outward reluctance and sluggishness, as if being forced to move, whereas 'play for time' implies a more active, strategic manipulation of the clock
Stall for the bus
Both aim to buy more time, but 'stall for the bus' has a charmingly informal, almost childlike rhythm to it, hinting at a universally understood childhood tactic, while 'play for time' sounds more deliberate and adult
Bide one's time
Both are about waiting, but 'bide one's time' often carries a sense of patient anticipation for the right moment, a quiet confidence, whereas 'play for time' implies a more immediate, perhaps anxious, need to deflect an impending demand

Opposite of "play for time"

Strike while the iron is hot
This phrase argues for seizing opportunities instantly, a bold embrace of urgency, directly challenging the hesitation inherent in 'playing for time' by advocating for decisive, immediate action
Seize the day (Carpe diem)
This calls for actively grasping the present moment with gusto and without delay, standing in stark contrast to the passive and evasive nature of 'playing for time', championing a life lived fully now
Cut to the chase
This urges directness and efficiency, cutting through any attempts at delaying or beating around the bush, championing the very speed and clarity that 'playing for time' seeks to undermine

Related to "play for time"

Run out the clock
This shares the temporal manipulation aspect of 'playing for time', but focuses on a more passive, often athletic, depletion of available time rather than the strategic delaying of a decision
Buy time
This is the closest cousin to 'play for time', essentially meaning the same thing but with a slightly more transactional feel, as if time itself is a commodity being negotiated
The eleventh hour
This phrase captures the critical moment of extreme delay, often associated with the last possible chance, highlighting the tense context in which 'playing for time' might occur
A stitch in time saves nine
This proverb offers a wisdom that directly counters the rationale behind 'playing for time', advocating for prompt action to prevent future problems rather than delaying them