gain time

Rather to gain time than with any definite motive, he stooped over the pass again, meaning to read it word for word.

The king answered and said: I know for certain, that you seek to gain time, since you know that the thing is gone from me.

I suspect Sir Alexander could not detect the nature of the illness, and wrote this merely to gain time.

What he wanted was to gain time, and perpetuate the war, even though waging an unequal contest.

The monarch acted upon insidious advice; he spoke them fair at first, to gain time, but did not fulfil his promises.