secured a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secured a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to obtaining or achieving a postponement or extension of time for something, such as a deadline or event. Example: "The company secured a delay in the project timeline to address unforeseen challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Except that Zellwegger had a certain, little project known as Jerry Maguire on 1996's horizon, and producers secured a delay in the film's release to ride off the back of the actress' pitched rise to stardom.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The US voted against the resolution, while Britain and France did not take part after failing to secure a delay.

The Guardian

If Real can secure a delay in the start of the transfer ban, which enables them to do business this summer, the club will intensify efforts to sign Lewandowski at the end of this season.

Independent

The sports minister Tracey Crouch resigned because she believed pro-gambling MP Philip Davies successfully went above her head to secure a delay to curbs on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), defying her on a policy she had overseen.

The Guardian

The letter was received by No 10 officials at some point between 6pm and 6.30pm on Friday, leading to a phone call between the prime minister and his work and pensions secretary in which Cameron tried desperately to persuade him to stay and managed to secure a delay until they had a face-to-face meeting.

The Guardian

The financial industry waged an aggressive campaign to stop the law — plastering Metro cars with ads and funneling donations to key politicians — but the effort came up short this month when banks failed to win enough votes in the Senate to secure a delay.

The Washington Post

"We have been inundated with support for our position from all across the United Kingdom as ordinary people see that the DUP is putting the union first". The Irish News reports that Theresa May will attempt to get MPs to back part of her Brexit deal later, in a bid to secure a delay until 22 May.

BBC

Seal hunters and processing firms from Canada, Norway and Greenland secured a temporary delay in the ban this summer, saying it would slash incomes in traditional Inuit communities and lead to suicides and substance abuse.

The New York Times

That sparked a furious lobbying campaign by outgoing Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, who helped secure a deal to delay the sequester for two months.

The Washington Post

With just 10 days left until Britain is due to leave the EU without a deal unless the government secures a fresh delay from Brussels, the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, said the cabinet would have to decide the way forward.

The Guardian

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told MPs that if they wanted to secure a further delay from the EU, the government must put forward a "credible proposition".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when choosing this phrase; in formal contexts, alternatives like "obtained a postponement" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "secured a delay" without considering whether the delay has any negative consequences or unresolved issues. Ensure you address the underlying problem that necessitated the delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secured a delay" functions as a verb phrase describing the action of successfully obtaining a postponement. As Ludwig AI highlights, this implies that effort was expended in achieving the extension.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "secured a delay" is a verb phrase used to express the successful attainment of a postponement or extension of time, as emphasized by Ludwig AI. Grammatically correct and generally neutral in tone, it finds frequent use in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While not extremely common, it's a versatile way to indicate that an active role was taken in pushing back a deadline or planned event. Alternatives such as "obtained a postponement" or "gained an extension" offer slight variations in formality and emphasis, but similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Obtained a postponement

Replaces "secured" with a more direct synonym and "delay" with a related term for postponement.

Gained an extension

Focuses on the result of the action, emphasizing the extension received.

Achieved a deferral

Uses a more formal term, "deferral", to indicate a delay.

Arranged a respite

Implies a temporary break or relief was arranged.

Negotiated a continuance

Suggests the delay was the result of a negotiation or formal request.

Procured a reprieve

Similar to "respite" but often implies a more serious situation from which temporary relief is granted.

Elicited a concession for time

Indicates the delay was granted as a concession.

Won a grace period

Emphasizes that a period of grace was obtained.

Managed to postpone

Highlights the effort involved in achieving the delay.

Effectuated a rescheduling

A more formal way to describe rearranging the schedule to a later time.

FAQs

What does "secured a delay" mean?

The phrase "secured a delay" means that someone has managed to obtain or arrange a postponement or extension of time for something. It implies that effort was made to achieve this delay.

What can I say instead of "secured a delay"?

You can use alternatives like "obtained a postponement", "gained an extension", or "achieved a deferral" depending on the context.

Is "secured a delay" formal or informal?

"Secured a delay" is generally considered to be neutral to slightly formal. In very formal contexts, alternatives like "obtained a postponement" may be preferable.

How do I use "secured a delay" in a sentence?

You can use "secured a delay" to describe situations where someone has successfully arranged an extension of time. For example: "The company secured a delay in the project timeline to address unforeseen challenges".