jouer la montre
To obstruct
字面意思: To play the watch
Use `jouer la montre` when someone is intentionally wasting time to avoid a result or a confrontation.
15秒了解
- To intentionally stall or delay for a tactical advantage.
- Derived from sports where players waste time to protect a lead.
- Used in business, politics, and everyday arguments to describe foot-dragging.
意思
It means to stall for time or delay a decision on purpose. You use it when someone is dragging their feet to avoid a bad outcome or to wait for a better opportunity.
关键例句
3 / 6A colleague avoiding a deadline
Arrête de jouer la montre et donne-moi ce rapport !
Stop stalling and give me that report!
A child avoiding bedtime
Le petit joue la montre pour ne pas aller se coucher.
The little one is stalling to avoid going to bed.
Discussing a political debate
Le ministre a joué la montre pendant toute l'interview.
The minister stalled during the entire interview.
文化背景
Originating from sports terminology in the mid-20th century, this phrase captures the French appreciation for 'tactique.' It moved from the soccer pitch to the halls of the National Assembly, where politicians use long speeches to block votes.
The 'Intent' Rule
Only use this if you think the person is being slow ON PURPOSE. If they are just clumsy, it doesn't apply.
Don't confuse with 'Regarder la montre'
If you say someone is 'looking at the watch,' it just means they are bored or in a hurry. 'Playing the watch' is a strategy.
15秒了解
- To intentionally stall or delay for a tactical advantage.
- Derived from sports where players waste time to protect a lead.
- Used in business, politics, and everyday arguments to describe foot-dragging.
What It Means
Imagine you are winning a soccer match by one goal. There are only two minutes left. You start taking a long time to tie your shoes. You kick the ball far away. You are jouer la montre. It means intentionally slowing things down. You want the clock to run out before anything changes. In daily life, it is about creating delays. You do this to avoid answering a hard question. Or you do it to frustrate an opponent.
How To Use It
You use it like a standard verb phrase. The subject is the person causing the delay. You can say il joue la montre or ils jouent la montre. It works perfectly in the present tense for ongoing stalling. Use the passé composé if someone successfully delayed a project. It is very common in politics, business, and sports. Even in your love life, if someone won't commit, they might be jouer la montre.
When To Use It
Use it when you spot someone being sneaky with time. Use it at work when a colleague avoids a deadline. Use it during a debate when someone gives long, empty answers. It is great for describing a child who suddenly needs a glass of water at bedtime. They are not thirsty; they are just jouer la montre. It fits any situation where time is being used as a tactical weapon.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for accidental lateness. If your train is late, the train is not jouer la montre. That is just a delay. Do not use it if someone is just slow at working. It requires intent. There must be a strategy behind the slowness. Also, avoid it in very high-level academic writing. It is a bit too colorful for a PhD thesis. Stick to more formal terms like temporiser there.
Cultural Background
This expression comes straight from the world of sports. In rugby or football, a team that is winning will do anything to stop the play. They watch the stadium clock constantly. France is a country that loves a good debate. Sometimes, the only way to win a debate is to make it last until everyone else gives up. It reflects a certain tactical cleverness that French culture often admires, even if it is annoying.
Common Variations
You might hear gagner du temps. That is the plain version. It just means 'to win time.' But jouer la montre is much more descriptive. It implies a game is being played. Another variation is faire traîner les choses. This means 'to make things drag on.' However, jouer la montre remains the most popular way to describe tactical stalling in modern French.
使用说明
This phrase is incredibly versatile. It sits in the 'neutral' register, meaning you can use it with your boss, your friends, or your spouse without sounding out of place.
The 'Intent' Rule
Only use this if you think the person is being slow ON PURPOSE. If they are just clumsy, it doesn't apply.
Don't confuse with 'Regarder la montre'
If you say someone is 'looking at the watch,' it just means they are bored or in a hurry. 'Playing the watch' is a strategy.
The Political Filibuster
In French news, you will hear this constantly during parliament sessions. It is the unofficial term for a filibuster.
例句
6Arrête de jouer la montre et donne-moi ce rapport !
Stop stalling and give me that report!
Direct and slightly frustrated usage in a professional setting.
Le petit joue la montre pour ne pas aller se coucher.
The little one is stalling to avoid going to bed.
A very common domestic scenario every parent recognizes.
Le ministre a joué la montre pendant toute l'interview.
The minister stalled during the entire interview.
Describes a tactical avoidance of difficult questions.
Je crois qu'il joue la montre avant de me répondre.
I think he's playing for time before answering me.
Used to describe social or romantic hesitation.
Le serveur joue la montre pour ne pas nous apporter l'addition !
The waiter is stalling so he doesn't have to bring us the bill!
A humorous take on slow service.
Ils jouent la montre pour nous forcer à accepter leur offre.
They are stalling to force us to accept their offer.
Highlights the strategic nature of the phrase.
自我测试
Choose the correct form of the phrase to complete the sentence.
L'avocat de la défense ___ pour reporter le procès.
The lawyer is stalling (playing the watch) to delay the trial.
Fill in the missing verb.
Nous ne pouvons plus ___ la montre, il faut décider.
The idiom always uses the verb 'jouer' (to play).
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Jouer la montre'
Used with friends about dating or chores.
Tu joues la montre, là !
Standard usage in offices or news reports.
L'entreprise joue la montre.
Used in legal or political commentary.
La défense a choisi de jouer la montre.
When to use 'Jouer la montre'
Sports
Wasting time at the corner flag.
Work
Delaying a project update.
Politics
Long speeches to block a law.
Family
Kids asking for one more story.
常见问题
10 个问题Not exactly. 'Perdre son temps' is just wasting time. Jouer la montre is wasting time with a specific goal in mind.
Yes, it is neutral enough for work. You might say, J'ai l'impression que le client joue la montre to a colleague.
Usually, yes, because it implies someone is being obstructive. However, in sports, it can be seen as a smart (if annoying) tactic.
There isn't a direct idiom, but you could use presser le pas (to speed up) or aller droit au but (to go straight to the point).
No, it is only for people or organizations. A slow computer is just lent, it isn't playing the watch.
You could say faire traîner or gagner du temps, but jouer la montre is already very common in casual speech.
No! It is purely metaphorical. No one needs to be wearing a watch to jouer la montre.
Yes, it is widely understood in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
It uses the auxiliary 'avoir'. For example: Ils ont joué la montre (They stalled).
Yes, if they are avoiding a conversation about the future, you can say Il joue la montre pour ne pas s'engager.
相关表达
Gagner du temps (To gain/win time)
Faire traîner les choses (To make things drag on)
Temporiser (To stall/bide one's time)
Prendre son temps (To take one's time - usually positive)
Battre en retraite (To retreat/back off)
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