buy time

Idioms and Phrases

Increase the time available for a specific purpose. For example, Renting an apartment buys them time to look around for a new house .

Example Sentences

It uses negotiations, including the most recent ones, to buy time to press ahead with its nuclear program.

From The Daily Beast

I can say, though, that Iran has used negotiations to buy time with America.

From The Daily Beast

Stations have to allow campaigns for federal office to buy time and cannot censor their ads, regardless of content.

From The Daily Beast

And a rubbing alcohol/lavender oil mix works only as a short-term defense to buy time until the exterminator comes.

From The Daily Beast

The Chinese are just hoping to deflect international pressure ahead of the G-20 and buy time for their exporters.

From The Daily Beast

Books are good and pictures are good, and money to buy them is therefore good—but to buy time—in other words, life!'

From Project Gutenberg