waiting game

American  

noun

1. 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.

---

waiting game British  

noun

1. the postponement of action or decision in order to gain the advantage

---

waiting game Idioms  

1. see play a waiting game.

---

Etymology

Origin of waiting game

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The waiting game was punctured by viral AI-generated images of Trump in vivid scenes of arrest and imprisonment.

From Washington Post

Templeton won’t say whom she plans to support and says she expects a similar waiting game among GOP voters and donors in South Carolina.

From Seattle Times

This particular waiting game has gone on for a while.

From Washington Times

Unlike at Warhol’s Factory, here he knew he would have just a few minutes to shoot the officials, though he had to endure weeks of cancellations and long waiting games in the embassy lobby.

From New York Times

Mr Smalls rejects suggestions that Amazon's waiting game will succeed, pointing to new union campaigns in Minnesota and California.

From BBC