kill the clock

kill the clock

In sports, to protect a lead by using up as much possible time that remains in a game or match without giving the opposing team a chance to score, generally by maintaining a passive or defensive strategy. With just a narrow two-point lead, the home team is trying to kill the clock to hold out for a win. I don't know, Jim, there's a lot of game time left for them to start killing the clock.
See also: clock, kill
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • run down the clock
  • run out the clock
  • run the clock down
  • run the clock out
  • keep a clean sheet
  • away game
  • knock (someone) out of the box
  • knock out of the box
  • goal
  • an own goal
References in periodicals archive
You look at the last few minutes and you think, let's just manage the game at the end there and kill the clock off, and we've ended up with a turnover and putting ourselves under a bit of pressure.
You look at the last few minutes and you think, let's just manage the game at the end there and kill the clock off and we've ended up with a turnover and putting ourselves under a bit of pressure.
In his appearance on Capitol Hill, Zuckerberg was also able to use his interlocutors' grandstanding to kill the clock, but those who were canny enough to come equipped with follow-up questions were able to wring a few savory sound bites out of him, as when Senator Richard Durbin cornered him into saying he wouldn't be comfortable sharing the name of his hotel.
"We wanted them to shoot that because if they kill the clock and they go to the free-throw line, we know whats going to happen," Pedersen said.
He made the first free throw and then missed the second one intentionally and kill the clock.
51 -- who can pick up short yardage to extend a drive or kill the clock when Fitchburg is holding a late lead.
The Steelers main drawback was three turnovers, which gave the Ravens the opportunity to kill the clock.
Celtic started making subs to kill the clock and I'd have done the same myself, but we tried to be brave.
Christofias to kill the clock in negotiations," Eroglu said.
"There were just a couple of minutes left and I thought 'let's get the ball and kill the clock', but then they scored."
EARL WEAVER, former Baltimore Orioles manager, on why he prefers baseball to football: "You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the plate and give the other man a chance."
The obvious danger for fourth-quarter backers is that the leading team may try to kill the clock, but it still rates a bet and Stan James' 11- 4 is worth taking.
Lakeshore now had the ball and only needed to kill the clock for the win.
During Denver's final possession, Manning had a key 21-yard completion to tight end Julius Thomas on third down that helped the Broncos go on to kill the clock.
Manning did manage to settle down and nearly led a fourth quarter surge with two touchdown passes, but Atlanta was able to kill the clock before any late game heroics from the future Hall of Famer.