mark time
1．be idle；wait for等待
The teacher marked time until all the children were ready for the test．老师一直等到所有孩子都作好了考试准备。
Business is fairly slow；we're just marking time till the economy improves．现在生意相当萧条，我们正等待经济的好转。
2．move the feet up and down as in marching，but not going forward原地踏步
The captain ordered his men to mark time．上尉命令士兵原地踏步。