The idiom "buy time" means to do something in order to gain more time to complete a task or to delay an event or decision. It is often used when someone needs more time to think about something or to prepare for something.
For example, if a student is not prepared for a test, they might ask the teacher if they can have a few more days to study. The teacher might say "I can't give you more time, but I can give you some extra credit work to buy you some time."
Another example is when a company is facing a deadline to complete a project, but they need more time to finish it. They might ask their client for an extension to buy them some time.
In short, "buy time" means to delay or extend a deadline or decision in order to have more time to prepare or complete a task.
• She tried to buy time by asking for an extension on the project deadline.
• The government is trying to buy time by implementing temporary solutions to the economic crisis.
• The diplomat's negotiation skills allowed him to buy time until a more permanent solution could be reached.
• I need to buy time to finish my homework.
• We need to buy time to come up with a better strategy before making any decisions.
• The CEO tried to buy time by arranging a meeting with the company's shareholders to discuss the future of the business.