English / idiom
mark time
MEANING IN ENGLISH
To pass time doing routine tasks without making any substantial forward progress.
In context
01
Instead of solving the dispute, both committee members preferred to mark time until elections.
02
Stubborn refusal to adapt will cause your business to mark time while competitors advance.
Synonyms
tread water,stall,wait on the sidelines
Antonyms
forge ahead,advance,make headway
Collocations
just marking time,mark time until,force someone to mark time