- waiting game
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a stratagem in which action on a matter is reserved for or postponed to a later time, allowing one to wait for a more advantageous time to act or to see what develops in the meantime.[1885-90]
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Universalium. 2010.
waiting game
Look at other dictionaries:
waiting game — waiting games N COUNT: usu sing If you play a waiting game, you deal with a situation by deliberately doing nothing, because you believe you will gain an advantage by acting later, or because you are waiting to see how other people are going to… … English dictionary
waiting game — n. a scheme by means of which one outwits or wins out over another by delaying or postponing action until one has an advantage … English World dictionary
waiting game — noun a strategy of delay • Hypernyms: ↑scheme, ↑strategy * * * ˈwaiting game [waiting game] noun singular a policy of waiting to see how a situation develops b … Useful english dictionary
waiting game — wait|ing game [ weıtıŋ ,geım ] noun singular play a/the waiting game to delay in a situation where people expect you to take action, because you think this will give you an advantage: Police seem to be playing a waiting game with the hijackers … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
waiting game — A person who plays a waiting game delays taking any action or making any decision because they prefer to wait and see how things develop, usually in the hope that this will put them in a stronger position. Our competitors are not reacting … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
waiting game — UK [ˈweɪtɪŋ ˌɡeɪm] / US noun [singular] play a/the waiting game to delay in a situation where people expect you to do something, because you think this will give you an advantage Police seem to be playing a waiting game with the hijackers … English dictionary
waiting game — noun A strategy or course of action in which one or more parties refrain from direct action until circumstances change in their favor. Inasmuch as nothing was really and rationally to be hoped for but a long continuance of the siege and wearying… … Wiktionary
waiting game — /ˈweɪtɪŋ geɪm/ (say wayting gaym) noun 1. the postponement of action on a particular matter for the time being in order to have an opportunity for more effective action later on. –phrase 2. play a waiting game, to avoid any definite action in the …
Waiting Game (single) — Single infobox Name = Waiting Game Artist = The Cooper Temple Clause from Album = Make This Your Own Released = January 8 2007 Format = Vinyl record (7 ), CD Recorded = 2006 Genre = Alternative rock Length = Label = Sequel Records Producer =… … Wikipedia
waiting game — Synonyms and related words: a wise passiveness, acceptance, contemplation, contemplative life, do nothing policy, do nothingism, do nothingness, dormancy, endurance, forbearance, forbearing, forbearingness, fortitude, idleness, immobility,… … Moby Thesaurus
waiting game — wait′ing game n. a stratagem in which decisive action is postponed to a later date, allowing one to gain a possible advantage by the delay • Etymology: 1885–90 … From formal English to slang
