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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

stall for time en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To intentionally cause a delay; to stop; to wait.
    • So in February, it was decided to lay up a good portion of the fleet, whose operational costs were astronomical, whilst they attempted to conduct peace negotiations, whilst simultaneously secretly trying to swing France over to the British side. But the Dutch, de Witt especially, were quite aware that Charles II was largely stalling for time, although they didn't quite know why, and determined to end the war, on their terms, in a single strike. 2019 April 24, Drachinifel, 7:23 from the start, in The Raid on the Medway - Grand Theft Warship, archived from the original on 26 Dec 2020:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
stalling for time Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
stalled for time Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
stalled for time Tense=Past lexicographic
stalls for time Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

bide one's time · pussyfoot · dick around · hem and haw

Synonyms

temporize

Translations (3)

pl grać na zwłokę (To cause a delay) · ru тяну́ть вре́мя (To cause a delay) · mi whakataruna (To cause a delay)