Dic: buy time

• You are just stalling to buy time. 
• Maybe I can buy some time by asking the judge for a continuance. 
• We were quickly running out of money but managed to buy time by getting a small loan.

1. to postpone an event hoping that the situation will improve.
2. to obtain a longer period before something happens.

.... http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/buy+time