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buy time

Idioms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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buy time

So the main solution right now is for crews to do their best to keep the tank as cool as possible — and buy time.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026

Warsh would buy time to make other changes at the Fed that he has long advocated.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

For iFast Capital’s Kevin Khaw Khai Sheng, the central bank’s latest measures can buy time “and slow the bleeding,” but not much more.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

Paul's conditioning has sharpened, but money can't buy time in boxing and ring craft can only be forged through years of competitive rounds.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025

I’ll buy time another way: Ask anyone over twenty-nine about their love life and you can stop the clock cold for fifteen minutes, minimum.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023