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.

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waiting game British  

noun

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

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waiting game Idioms  

1. see play a waiting game.

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Etymology

Origin of waiting game

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waiting game

This means that Salcido has committed herself to a waiting game before she gets her money, with an element of risk on top – she needs the business to continue to be successful.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

Investors have been playing a waiting game since a ceasefire was agreed at the start of April, with just one round of talks taking place that came to nothing.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

For him and wife Nicola, from Wednesbury, every day was a waiting game.

From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2026

For the past few years, housing has been a waiting game, as buyers balk at record-high prices and sellers hold off on listing their homes until activity returns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025

Then I relaxed a bit; work had to be done and I would play the waiting game.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison