ganar tiempo
Lemma Details
Translation: to gain time; to buy time; to stall
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines 'ganar' (to win, to gain) from Gothic *waidanjan (to harvest, to pasture) and 'tiempo' from Latin 'tempus' (time). The combination creates an idiomatic expression about extending available time, similar to the English 'buy time'.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Necesitamos ganar tiempo hasta que llegue el abogado.
We need to buy time until the lawyer arrives.
Está ganando tiempo para preparar mejor su respuesta.
He's stalling to better prepare his answer.
Ganamos tiempo al posponer la reunión hasta la próxima semana.
We gained time by postponing the meeting until next week.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'gaining' or 'winning' more time on a clock.
- Visualize a person trying to 'win' extra minutes in a game or negotiation.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in both business and personal contexts when discussing negotiation tactics or dealing with difficult situations that require delaying a decision or action.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'ganar tiempo' means to deliberately extend available time for strategic purposes, 'perder tiempo' means to waste time unproductively.
This word:
Estoy ganando tiempo mientras preparo mi estrategia.
I'm buying time while I prepare my strategy.
Confused word:
Estás perdiendo tiempo con esas actividades inútiles.
You're wasting time with those useless activities.
Notes: The key difference is in the intention and outcome: gaining time is strategic, losing time is wasteful.
Mnemonic: Ganar (gain) is positive, perder (lose) is negative.
Explanation: 'Ganar tiempo' implies a strategic delay, while 'pasar el tiempo' simply means to spend time or pass time without necessarily any strategic purpose.
Confused word:
Pasamos el tiempo charlando mientras esperábamos el tren.
We passed the time chatting while waiting for the train.
Notes: The intent differs: one is strategic, the other is casual.
Mnemonic: Ganar (gain) implies acquisition, pasar (pass) implies letting go.