breathing spell

In explaining the rationale, Mr. Neligan said the N.R.A. “needed both the breathing spell that Chapter 11 offers and an ability to centralize this litigation and deal with it in an organized fashion.”

Bankruptcy Court in Delaware that the Chapter 11 case will provide a "breathing spell" for the D.C.-based trade group to focus on advocacy and adding members.

“There’s just no breathing spell while the run’s on,” Fritz said.

“The debtor is entitled to a reasonable breathing spell to get his house in order.”

Why in the world, during a breathing spell in their war against Sparta, did democratic Athenians attack neutral and democratic Syracuse, 500 miles away?