Run out the clock
Run down the clock / Kill the clock
Fare melina
Run down the clock / Kill the clock
Fare melina
Meanings
In sports (but also figuratively), to waste time near the end of the match by playing an inconclusive game in order to protect the current result
Examples
With just ten minutes to go before the official end of the soccer game, the players – evidently satisfied with the draw – kept passing the ball back and forth in order to run out the clock amid the booing of the crowd
Mancavano ancora dieci minuti alla conclusione ufficiale della partita
di calcio, ma i giocatori – evidentemente appagati del risultato di
parità – facevano melina tra i fischi del pubblico