waiting game | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Astrategyorcourse of actionin which one or more partiesrefrainfrom direct action untilcircumstanceschange in their favor.to play thewaiting game1895November, Louis de Conte, translated by [Jean François Alden] [pseudonyms;Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain)], “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc.[…]”, inHarper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume XCI, number DXLVI, New York, N.Y.:Harper & Brothers,[…],→ISSN,[book I], part II, chapter 20,page880:[…]inasmuch as nothing was really and rationally to be hoped for but a long continuance of the siege and wearying out of the English, they were naturally a little afraid of Joan's impetuous notions. He said— “You see, we are sure that thewaiting gameis the best, whereas you would carry everything by storm.”1913,P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 14, inThe Little Nugget:With Sam the only menace, I had been prepared to play a purelywaiting game, watching proceedings from afar, ready to give my help if necessary.1914,Jack London, “The Siege of theLancashire Queen”, inTales of the Fish Patrol:It was awaiting game, and whichever waited the longer was bound to win.1989,Andy Connell,Corinne Drewery, “Waiting Game”, performed bySwing Out Sister:I hear a voice but it's not yours / I count the score / I can't go on playing thewaiting game2002February 20,Tony Karon, “New Violence Deepens Sharon's Crisis”, inTime‎[1], archived fromthe originalon22 October 2010:Arafat and Sharon have both been playing awaiting gamesince the Israeli leader's election a year ago.

Examples:

EN: You want to play a waiting game, hoping to learn Nemo's secrets.
ES: Quiere quedarse para descubrir los secretos de Nemo.
EN: With Villa, it's a waiting game.
ES: Ya está hecho.
EN: I was never much for the waiting game, anyway.
ES: Jamás me gustó esperar.
EN: The waiting game isn't my style.
ES: Ya sabes que la pasividad no es lo mío.
EN: A waiting game?
ES: ¿Un juego de espera?
EN: With all engines and systems shut down, we're playing the silent waiting game in the hope of regaining contact.
ES: Con todos los motores y sistemas apagados, estamos inmóviles a la espera de recuperar el contacto.
EN: I assure you, Minister, our best course is to play the waiting game.
ES: Le aseguro, Ministro, nuestro mejor curso es la estrategia de espera.
EN: It looks like the no. 1 contender, Clubber Lang, will have to play the waiting game.
ES: Y parece que Clubber Lang, el principal aspirante, tendrá que seguir esperando.
EN: Well, it's a waiting game, then.
ES: Sólo se trata de esperar.
EN: Now we play the waiting game.
ES: Ahora es cuestión de esperar.
EN: Ah, the waiting game sucks.
ES: Esto de esperar apesta.
EN: Just play the waiting game.
ES: Sólo vamos a esperar.
EN: Let's play a waiting game, eh?
ES: Vamos a esperar, ¿sí?
EN: No, I'm not gonna apologize. I can play their waiting game.
ES: Quizás...
EN: Always a waiting game.
ES: Siempre es un juego de espera.

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