to win some time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to win some time" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase usually means to gain extra time in order to accomplish a goal. For example, "I tried to win some time by offering to take care of the paperwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The American team appear very, very strong this year and you get this feeling that after all these defeats the USA have to win some time soon.

The Guardian - Sport

Mostly phrases of arias I will be singing in public the next days… it's a good way to win some time!

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mrowiec is hoping to win some game time ahead of the 19 May Hampden final against city neighbours Hibernian.

BBC

It didn't matter that they won all the time, it didn't matter that they lost all the time, it just mattered that they had to win some of the time and they had to put up a fight and they had to argue for the demand and the equation and for the idea that workers were not worth less, they were worth more.

The Guardian

"We have to buy time to win some games and simultaneously allow injured boys time to come back into the fray.

BBC

It's time to win some games".

The New York Times - Sports

But he was clearly the best player at the silly "Match Game"; contestants were always choosing him as their foxhole teammate — when it came right down to it, the jokes were over and it was time to win some money.

The New York Times - Arts

7) The pursuit of silverware This season now represents the best chance a mid-table or lower club has a chance to win some silverware in a very long time.

Independent

Singapore's long-serving administration has won some time to ponder how it will deal with yet another self-inflicted blow to its global branding.

The Guardian

I need to win next time out".

Independent

"I want to win every time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to win some time" when you want to emphasize gaining an opportunity for something to happen, such as developing a vaccine or making strategic decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "to win some time" when the intention is to wait patiently for an opportunity. "To bide one's time" is more appropriate when waiting is the primary action, while "to win some time" implies proactive effort to gain an advantage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to win some time" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates the reason for taking a particular action, which is to gain additional time for a specific objective, as exemplified by Ludwig in the sentence about delaying to allow vaccine development.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to win some time" is a grammatically sound infinitive phrase used to express the purpose of delaying something to gain an advantage or opportunity. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While it is not very common, it appears in both News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. To express similar ideas, one might consider alternatives like "to buy time" or "to gain reprieve", although the specific context will dictate the most appropriate choice. It's important not to confuse this phrase with "to bide time", which means to wait patiently.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to buy oneself time

Emphasizes actively creating a delay for one's own benefit.

to stall for time

Highlights delaying a situation, often with the intent of avoiding something.

to play for time

Implies using tactics to prolong a situation to one's advantage.

to gain a reprieve

Focuses on obtaining a temporary break from something challenging.

to defer action

Focuses on postponing a particular action or decision.

to create a buffer

Highlights the act of adding extra time or resources to a schedule.

to delay the inevitable

Suggests postponing something that is bound to happen.

to postpone resolution

Emphasizes the act of delaying a final decision or solution.

to procrastinate strategically

Highlights delaying a task, usually with a purpose in mind.

to extend the deadline

Relates to pushing back the due date for a task or project.

FAQs

How can I use "to win some time" in a sentence?

You can use "to win some time" to describe actions taken to delay a situation, such as "The protraction of the pandemic wave is essential "to win time" while waiting for vaccine development and production."

What's a similar phrase to "to win some time"?

A similar phrase is "to buy time", which also suggests delaying an event or situation to gain an advantage.

Is "to win some time" formal or informal?

The phrase "to win some time" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation and audience.

What is the difference between "to win some time" and "to kill time"?

"To win some time" implies a purposeful delay to achieve a goal, whereas "to kill time" means to do something to pass the time without a specific goal.