To buy time is to delay in order to gain more of it. Buy time with a question, just buying time.
It admits the delay is deliberate, which is what separates it from being slow. Buying time is worth something only if the extra time is used.
1phrasebuy timeTo delay in order to gain more time.
“The adjournment was called to buy time for a proper answer.”
buy time is a phrase.
Practised in Time & Calendar