The term 'played for time' can be summarized by two crossword solutions: 'stalled' and 'DELAYED'. Stalling is a tactic used to buy time, usually in a negotiation or other situation. It involves intentionally slowing down the process in order to gain an advantage. Delaying is similar to stalling, but it is more of a passive action. It involves putting off something until a later date or time. Both tactics are used to gain an advantage by buying time.