stalling
Definition
- Noun:
- A tactic used to mislead or delay: The act of intentionally causing a delay or creating a deceptive impression to postpone an action or decision.
Usage
- The word "stalling" is used to describe a deliberate action or strategy aimed at gaining time or avoiding an immediate outcome. It often carries a negative connotation, implying obstruction or avoidance.
Examples
- Noun:
- The constant requests for more data were just a form of stalling by the negotiator.
- His stalling over signing the contract made everyone anxious.
Advanced Usage
- "Stalling for time": A common phrase meaning to deliberately delay in order to gain more time to think or prepare.
- She kept asking irrelevant questions, clearly stalling for time before giving her answer.
Variants and Related Words
- Stall (verb): To take action to cause a delay or to stop making progress.
- The car stalled at the intersection. (Note: This mechanical meaning is a different sense of the verb "stall," related to stopping an engine's operation.)
- He tried to stall the committee with lengthy reports.
- Staller (noun): A person who stalls.
Synonyms
- Delaying tactic
- Procrastination (though this often implies delay due to habit or reluctance rather than a deliberate tactic)
- Filibustering (specifically in a parliamentary context)
- Temporizing
Related Phrases
- Play for time: Similar to "stalling for time."
- The lawyer asked for an adjournment to play for time.
Notes
- As a noun, "stalling" is derived from the verb "stall." The core concept is the intentional creation of delay. It is important to distinguish the tactical noun "stalling" from the present participle of the verb, as in "He is stalling the project."
Noun
-
a tactic used to mislead or delay
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