run the clock down

run the clock down

1. 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 has started to run the clock down to hold on for a win. It seems like a risky strategy, Jim. There's a lot of game time left for them to start running the clock down already.
2. By extension, to protect an advantage by using up as much possible time that remains in a particular situation. They know they have the votes to get their client off without punishment, so I bet they just run the clock down, rather than presenting a real defense. Shouldn't you wake Mom up? Oh, you sneak—you're trying to run the clock down so that she sleeps through your practice and you don't have to go.
See also: clock, down, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • run down the clock
  • run out the clock
  • run the clock out
  • kill the clock
  • 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
THERE will not be a second referendum while Jeremy Corbyn's ineptitude allows this failed minority government to run the clock down with their perverse beauty contest to choose a new Prime Minister on the basis of who can offer the ugliest policies of them all.
They pushed players forward but Killie's defence gave nothing away, and when Killie grabbed a third goal they were able to run the clock down.
Dan Rundle Unhappy because the home side had a forward player in the bin and the referee was allowing the mounting scrum infringements to run the clock down, negating Stour's extra-man advantage, which was not the only concern he had about the officiating.
Two Monaghan players got knocks early in the second half and that helped run the clock down as Ward rejoined the action with Tyrone having only added a point via Kieran McGeary during that spell with numerical advantage.
"The government is not trying to run the clock down. The government is trying to get a negotiated deal with our European partners," he added.
Mr Heaton-Harris told Sky News: "The Government is not trying to run the clock down. The Government is trying to get a negotiated deal with our European partners."
Not real, either, like Theresa May's preposterous meaningful vote on her Withdrawal Agreement, first pulled due to stage fright before being trounced after a hamfisted attempt to run the clock down.
He added: "It's increasingly likely we'll have to take that option because the Government has run the clock down." Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Jon Trickett went further, saying: "Labour wants to stop a no-deal because of the damage it will do.
Instead of a first-and-goal at the spot of the foul with an opportunity to run the clock down to its final seconds before kicking the winning field goal, the Saints were forced to boot the go-ahead three-pointer with enough time left to enable the Rams to stage a furious comeback and win the game in overtime.
"I hope we can learn, it was important to run the clock down. Now it's difficult, we have a different feeling, negative.
Shrewsbury's time-wasting infuriating Even in the first half the visitors were desperately trying to run the clock down, perhaps conscious of the fact theirs was the worst away record in the whole of League One.
The shadow chancellor told the FT: "The idea of indicative votes is just to run the clock down even further towards March 29.
"We certainly didn't let them play as they would have liked, and it was Arsenal who were trying to run the clock down at the finish.
After Townsend snared the loose ball, Elgin Academy went into a stall to run the clock down. At the 17.2 second mark, Ulrichs couldn't get his shot to drop and Westminster recovered the ball.
9 3 Port Vale................9 4 MK Dons................8 3 CrawleyTown........9 4 Mansfield..............8 2 Crewe....................8 2 Cheltenham ..........9 2 Cambridge U .........9 2 Northampton........9 1 Morecambe...........9 2 Grimsby.................9 1 Notts County .........9 0 Macclesfield..........9 0 Fraser Franks scored the only goal of the game five minutes in - and from then onwards, the visitors were very streetwise in their play as they began to run the clock down at any given opportunity.