Meaning & use
stalling tactics
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Meanings
nounplural
Actions or excuses used on purpose to delay something so that a decision or an ending is put off.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; it takes a plural verb: 'Their stalling tactics are working.'
Patterns
- use stalling tactics
- resort to stalling tactics
- somebody's stalling tactics
The company used stalling tactics to avoid signing the contract.
Critics say the committee's stalling tactics have cost the project a whole year.
When reporters asked about the report, the minister fell back on familiar stalling tactics.
nounpluralsport
In a game or contest, ways of wasting time while keeping a small advantage.
Grammar: Treated as plural; the singular form 'stalling tactic' is used for one instance.
Patterns
- one's stalling tactics
- be accused of stalling tactics
Late in the match the team's stalling tactics annoyed the crowd.
The goalkeeper's stalling tactics earned him a warning from the referee.
Word forms
| singular | stalling tactic |
|---|
Common combinations
- resort to stalling tactics
- When talks got hard, both sides resorted to stalling tactics.
- accuse somebody of stalling tactics
- The union accused management of stalling tactics.
- use stalling tactics to avoid something
- She used stalling tactics to avoid answering the question.
- a familiar stalling tactic
- Changing the subject is his most familiar stalling tactic.
- delay through stalling tactics
- The vote was delayed through stalling tactics.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delaying tactics
- Very close in meaning, but it stresses the delay itself rather than the act of refusing to move forward.
- time-wasting
- More informal and often used of sport or everyday behavior rather than negotiations.
- stonewalling
- Stronger: it means refusing to give information or cooperate at all, not just slowing things down.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: stalling tactics or stalking?
stalling tactics vs stalking
'Stalking' means following someone secretly and repeatedly; 'stalling' is about causing delay.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'stalling tactics' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Stalling tactics' are deliberate delays, so they put things off, as in option A. Option B is the opposite, and option C ignores that the phrase describes repeated delaying moves.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stalling tactics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.