mark time

mark time
phrasal
1. : to keep the time of a marching step (as in military drill) by moving the feet alternately without advancing
2. : to function or operate in a lackadaisical, listless, or unproductive manner : merely go through the motions of activity : fail to advance or progress : stand still

the commission was just marking timeCollier's Year Book

our free dynamic economy cannot mark time — Walter Reuther


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • mark time — {v. phr.} 1. To move the feet up and down as in marching, but not going forward. * /The officer made the soldiers mark time as a punishment./ 2. To be idle; waiting for something to happen. * /The teacher marked time until all the children were… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • mark time — {v. phr.} 1. To move the feet up and down as in marching, but not going forward. * /The officer made the soldiers mark time as a punishment./ 2. To be idle; waiting for something to happen. * /The teacher marked time until all the children were… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Mark Time Awards — The Mark Time Awards are the most prominent radio drama awards worldwide in conjunction with the Ogle Awards. The awards are granted by the MISFITS Minnesota Society For Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy and judged by a panel of five… …   Wikipedia

  • mark time — phrasal 1. to keep the time of a marching step by moving the feet alternately without advancing 2. to maintain a static state of readiness < the House was marking time while the Senate talked F. L. Paxson > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • To mark time — Mark Mark (m[aum]rk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Marked} (m[aum]rkt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Marking}.] [OE. marken, merken, AS. mearcian, from mearc. See {Mark} the sign.] 1. To put a mark upon; to affix a significant mark to; to make recognizable by a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mark time — verb Marching in place; not going anywhere …   Wiktionary

  • Military mark time — Marking time is a military step in which soldiers march in place. That is, they move their legs as in marching but without stepping forward[1]. The military drill command is Mark Time, March! to change from standing at attention to Marking Time… …   Wikipedia

  • Mark — (m[aum]rk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Marked} (m[aum]rkt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Marking}.] [OE. marken, merken, AS. mearcian, from mearc. See {Mark} the sign.] 1. To put a mark upon; to affix a significant mark to; to make recognizable by a mark; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mark Siegel — (born June 2, 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is known both as a book illustrator and as the editorial director of First Second Books, which publishes graphic novels for all ages. His books in print to date are Seadogs, An Epic Ocean Operetta (on a… …   Wikipedia

  • mark — mark1 /mahrk/, n. 1. a visible impression or trace on something, as a line, cut, dent, stain, or bruise: a small mark on his arm. 2. a badge, brand, or other visible sign assumed or imposed: a mark of his noble rank. 3. a symbol used in writing… …   Universalium

  • time — /tuym/, n., adj., v., timed, timing. n. 1. the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another. 2. duration …   Universalium

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