| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | delay for own purposes |
| Synonyms: | arrest, avoid the issue, beat around the bush, brake, check, die, drag one's feet, equivocate, fence, filibuster, halt, hamper, hedge, hinder, hold off, interrupt, not move, play for time, postpone, prevaricate, put off, quibble, shut down, slow, slow down, stand, stand off, stand still, stay, still, stonewall, stop, suspend, take one's time, tarry, temporize |
| Antonyms: | advance, allow, further, help |
| Main Entry: | accomplice |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | helper, especially in committing a crime |
| Synonyms: | abettor, accessory, aid, aide, ally, assistant, associate, co-conspirator, collaborator, colleague, confederate, conspirator, insider, partner, plant*, stall* |
| Antonyms: | adversary, enemy, opponent |
| Main Entry: | act |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | pretended behavior |
| Synonyms: | affectation, attitude, bit*, chaser, dissimilation, fake, false front, feigning, front, performance, phony, pose, posture, pretense, put-on, sham, show, shuck and jive, simulation, soft soap, stall, stance, stunt, sweet talk |
| Notes: | an act is the main dramatic unit and a scene is a division within an act |
| Main Entry: | alibi |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | defense against charges of wrongdoing; evidence of absence |
| Synonyms: | account, affirmation, airtight case, allegation, answer, assertion, assurance, avowal, case, cop-out, cover, declaration, excuse, explanation, fish story, justification, plea, pretext, profession, proof, reason, reply, retort, song and dance, stall, statement, vindication |
| Notes: | an alias is an assumed name, an alibi is a form of defense whereby a defendant attempts to prove that he or she was elsewhere when the crime in question was committed, while an excuse is an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness |
| Main Entry: | arrest |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop or slow |
| Synonyms: | block, can, check, delay, drop, end, freeze, halt, hinder, hold, inhibit, interrupt, knock off, obstruct, prevent, restrain, restrict, retard, scrub, shut down, stall, stay, suppress |
| Antonyms: | activate, encourage, let go, release |
| Main Entry: | balk |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart |
| Synonyms: | baffle, bar, beat, check, circumvent, counteract, cramp, cramp one's style, dash, defeat, disappoint, disconcert, foil, forestall, frustrate, hinder, obstruct, prevent, ruin, stall, stop, throw a curve, throw monkey wrench in, upset the apple cart |
| Antonyms: | aid, help, make easier |
| Main Entry: | bench |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | furniture for sitting |
| Synonyms: | bank, chair, form, lawn seat, pew, seat, settee, settle, stall |
| Main Entry: | block |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | obstruct |
| Synonyms: | arrest, bar, barricade, block out, blockade, brake, catch, charge, check, choke, clog, close, close off, close out, congest, cut off, dam, deter, fill, halt, hang up, hinder, hold up, impede, intercept, interfere with, occlude, plug, prevent, shut off, shut out, stall, stonewall, stop, stop up, stopper, stymie, tackle, take out of play, thwart |
| Notes: | a bloc is a group of countries in special alliance while a block is an obstruction, an interruption, or a rectangular area or shape |
| Antonyms: | let go, let up, open, unblock |
| Main Entry: | bluff |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | boast; deceit |
| Synonyms: | bluster, braggadocio, bragging, bravado, deception, delusion, facade, fake, false colors, false front, feint, fraud, front, humbug, jiving, lie, pretense, pretext, ruse, sham, show, snow*, stall, subterfuge, trick |