stall for a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stall for a while" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate delaying or pausing an action or decision for a short period. Example: "I need to stall for a while before making my final decision on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The conquerors refrained from invading the embassy, which was able to stall for a while their pressure to give up the Cambodians.

The New York Times - Books

If the parents demand to see the boyfriend again, the woman will typically stall for a while, and then say things didn't work out.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then things stalled for a while.

The Guardian - Books

Gasoline prices surpassed $4 a gallon on June 8, stalled for a while, and have been rising again in recent days, setting a record Saturday.

The New York Times

Roads have never been built, hospitals have only become worse and even the HIV/Aids successes have stalled for a while now.

The Guardian - Opinion

After stalling for a while at her gym in Virginia Beach, Douglas (played, in her older years, by Imani Hakim) finally leaves home to train with Liang Chow of Chow's Gymnastics, in Des Moines, Iowa.

The New Yorker

The real clue to the Volochkova case may turn out to be not her body weight but her contract negotiations, which have apparently been stalled for a while now.

The New York Times

Many, including former Brazil striker Ronaldo and ex-national coach Mano Menezes, feel his development stalled for a while as a consequence of staying too long in Brazil.

BBC

The military stalled for a while, then refused.

Vice

Williams admitted previously she became nervous and was stalled for a while trying to get to 18 major titles, to equal Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's career marks in second spot in the Open Era.

Los Angeles Times

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif ., anotheR-Calif .of moving another funding backerthofght the piecemovingpproacleanuld at least stall things fundinghile, though he wasn't sure how long.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stall for a while" when you need to delay a decision or action temporarily, especially when you need more time to assess a situation or gather information.

Common error

Avoid using "stall for a while" in highly formal or professional writing. More sophisticated alternatives like "defer" or "postpone" may be more appropriate in those scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stall for a while" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It expresses the act of intentionally delaying or postponing an action or decision. Ludwig's examples show it used in scenarios where gaining time is crucial.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Stall for a while" is a grammatically correct idiomatic phrase used to express the act of delaying something temporarily. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for general use but may not always be appropriate in formal settings. While it's most common in news and media, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "defer" or "postpone" for professional contexts. The best practice is to use it when you need to gain time to assess a situation or gather information, while avoiding overuse in scenarios demanding formality. Its function is typically to create a pause or delay, whether for strategic advantage or simply to buy time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delay briefly

Changes the idiom to a more straightforward description of postponing something.

postpone for a bit

Replaces "stall" with "postpone" and "a while" with "a bit", offering a slightly less formal tone.

hold off temporarily

Uses "hold off" to convey the sense of delaying and "temporarily" instead of "for a while".

put off for some time

Substitutes "stall" with "put off" and slightly extends the duration with "some time".

suspend for the moment

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the delay by using "suspend" and "for the moment".

defer for a short period

Offers a more formal alternative using "defer" and specifying "a short period".

table it for now

Uses the idiomatic expression "table it" meaning to postpone discussion or consideration.

gain some time

Focuses on the act of acquiring more time rather than explicitly stating the delay.

buy some time

Emphasizes acquiring extra time through delaying or pausing.

temporize

Uses a single verb to express delaying tactics.

FAQs

How can I use "stall for a while" in a sentence?

You can use "stall for a while" when you want to express the need to delay something temporarily, as in, "I need to stall for a while before making a final decision."

What are some alternatives to "stall for a while"?

Some alternatives to "stall for a while" include "delay briefly", "postpone for a bit", or "hold off temporarily".

Is "stall for a while" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "stall for a while" may sound informal in certain contexts. Consider more formal alternatives like "defer for a short period".

When should I use "stall for a while" instead of "delay indefinitely"?

"Stall for a while" implies a temporary delay, while "delay indefinitely" suggests the action might never happen. Choose "stall for a while" when the delay is intended to be short-term.