🪙 buy time

Concrete Meaning

To intentionally delay an event, decision, or action in order to have more time to prepare, think, or find a solution.

💬 Context & Examples

Used in negotiations, crisis management, or daily life when you aren't ready for what's coming next and need a temporary stalling tactic.

"The lawyer asked dozens of irrelevant questions just to buy time for her key witness to arrive."
"We don't have a permanent fix for the server yet, but restarting it should buy us some time."

🧠 Pattern Challenge

Test Yourself

If you are "buying" time, what other metaphorical system are you blending with the concept of time?

Show Answer

The Money & Wealth framework! You are treating time like a physical commodity, exchanging a stalling tactic as "payment" to purchase more minutes or hours.