a stay of execution

a stay of execution

An official order to halt a court-ordered execution of a prisoner. The governor ordered a stay of execution after new DNA evidence had been discovered by investigators.
See also: execution, of, stay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a stay of execution

a delay in carrying out a court order.
See also: execution, of, stay
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • execution
  • order (one) out (of some place)
  • order out
  • order out of some place
  • order off
  • order (one) off
  • miscarriage of justice
  • dead man walking
  • How much will it be?
  • trial balloon
References in periodicals archive
What's important is being able to manage these situations without risking injury." Parma are lucky to even be playing having been declared bankrupt last month and only winning a stay of execution thanks to an injection of funds by league and federation officials.
The prisoner was granted a stay of execution. The district court held that the state's failure to timely produce the execution protocol violated due process, and the balance of hardships favored a stay of execution.
Naturally, he applied for a stay of execution to allow him to present his claims, and that application reached the Supreme Court on Sept.
grant or a hold vote wouldn't be effective unless the court also issued the defendant a stay of execution. In the absence of a stay (requiring five votes), the defendant would be dead before the court took final action on his case.
Ever since Abu-Jamal received a stay of execution following national protests last summer, Weinglass has been petitioning the courts for a retrial based on new evidence.
He thought he was going to be executed on August 17, particularly after repeated applications for a stay of execution had been denied.