delay it further

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'delay it further' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about extending the period for something or making it take longer. For example: "We have already put the project back by two weeks; we cannot delay it further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Now that the topic had been raised, however, nobody wanted to delay it further.

The New York Times

"My fear is New Jersey will say, 'Oh, it costs just too much,' and delay it further," he said.

The New York Times

If war can be averted until then, Kashmir's early snows will be likely to delay it further, making both infiltration and military action difficult and unlikely.

The New York Times

I can see that it is a large sized download, and may take a long time, so that may make me want to delay it further.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They then delayed it further until after the independence referendum to avoid any controversy, and by that time three other applications had stacked up, and they consented all four together.

BBC

Legal experts said that a verdict in his bribery trial was still at least many months away and that he might find new ways to delay it even further.

The New York Times

By delaying the rule, White gave Republican lawmakers an opportunity to delay it even further by including language in must-pass government funding bills to put off the disclosures.

Huffington Post

Then the commission planned to vote on the proposal in September, but delayed it to further bolster the cost-benefit section of the rule.

The New York Times

After first calling the election off until Monday, officials further delayed it until next weekend.

BBC

The court was slated to conduct the first hearing on the case on Thursday, but later delayed it without giving any further details, according to CNN.

Huffington Post

It could delay further reductions until it sees evidence that December's weak numbers were temporary.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "delay it further" when you want to emphasize that something has already been delayed and you're discussing the possibility of an additional delay. For instance: "The project is already behind schedule; we can't "delay it further".

Common error

Avoid using "farther" instead of "further" in contexts related to time or abstract progress. "Farther" refers to physical distance, while "further" refers to degree or extent. For example, it's correct to say, "We cannot "delay it further" (degree of delay)," not "We cannot delay it farther" (physical distance).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay it further" functions as a verb phrase where "delay" is the verb, "it" is the direct object, and "further" is an adverb modifying the verb, indicating the extent of the delay. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is valid and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "delay it further" is a grammatically sound expression used to indicate an additional postponement of something already delayed. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it appears primarily in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are emphasizing that the delay is not the first one. Consider alternative phrasings such as "postpone it longer" or "put it off further" to achieve slight nuances in meaning. Remember to use "further" (degree) and not "farther" (physical distance) to avoid common errors. In conclusion, "delay it further" is a useful and correct phrase when used in the appropriate context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone it longer

Replaces "delay" with "postpone" and "further" with "longer", emphasizing the act of putting something off.

extend the delay

Focuses on the delay itself being prolonged, rather than the act of delaying.

prolong it more

Uses "prolong" to indicate a continuation of the delay.

defer it again

Emphasizes the repeated action of deferring.

put it off further

Uses the phrasal verb "put off" instead of "delay".

hold it back longer

Implies a more active obstruction or hindrance, suggesting resistance to forward movement.

stall it further

Suggests intentionally slowing down or stopping progress, often through indirect means.

protract it more

Similar to 'prolong', but suggests a more deliberate attempt to extend the duration.

suspend it longer

Indicates a temporary cessation, with the implication of extending that suspension.

impede its progress further

Focuses on hindering advancement, rather than simply postponing.

FAQs

How can I use "delay it further" in a sentence?

You can use "delay it further" when discussing postponing something again. For example, "If we don't get the funding approved this week, we may have to "delay it further".

What does "delay it further" mean?

"Delay it further" means to postpone something to a later time, especially when it has already been delayed at least once.

What are some alternatives to "delay it further"?

Some alternatives to "delay it further" include "postpone it longer", "extend the delay", or "put it off further".

Is it grammatically correct to say "delay it further"?

Yes, "delay it further" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard verb-object-adverb structure.