gain time
1. To dawdle or take some action so as to have more time to do something. To gain time when the chairman of the board asked about my plan for the new project, I excused myself to the bathroom.
2. To be ahead of the actual time, as of a clock or watch. This watch must have gained time—it says it's 12:15, but the grandfather clock downstairs just chimed 12.
gain ˈtime
delay something so that you can have more time to make a decision, deal with a problem, etc: Instead of answering the question, he asked for a glass of water to gain time. gain time
1. To run too fast. Used of a timepiece.
2. To delay or prolong something until a desired event occurs.