Buy time
Meaning: to do something in order to be allowed more time, to postpone an event hoping that the situation will improve
Example: He tried to buy time by saying he hadn't been well.
Выучи грамотный разговорный английский до уверенного владения всего за 9 месяцев по системе естественного усвоения иностранных языков. Жми!
Example: He tried to buy time by saying he hadn't been well.