run down the clock

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run down the clock (third-person singular simple present runs down the clock, present participle running down the clock, simple past ran down the clock, past participle run down the clock)

1. (idiomatic, sports) To waste time at the end of a match such that it is terminated by running out of time, or during a match so a time penalty is made less severe.
   • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC‎:

     Energetic Malouda was denied twice by Jussi Jaaskelainen late on before Ancelotti ran down the clock by introducing Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira in the closing seconds as Chelsea arrested their slide.

• run out the clock
• run the clock down

• run the clock down