🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

Zeit gewinnen

Pronunciation / Transliteration: tsait gevinnen

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Play for Time/pleɪ fɔːr taɪm/
verb phraseCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Er versucht, Zeit zu gewinnen, um eine bessere Lösung zu finden."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb phrase
  1. 1

    To delay or postpone an action or decision in order to gain more time.

    "The negotiators decided to play for time while they awaited a better offer."
  2. 2

    To engage in tactics that prolong a situation without making a commitment.

    "He was just playing for time, hoping the problem would resolve itself."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The phrase 'play for time' originates from the late 19th century, combining the verb 'play', derived from Old English 'plegan', meaning to engage in activity, and 'time', from Old English 'tima', referring to a measurable period. The phrase evolved to signify delaying action to gain an advantage.

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