breathing space

noun [U or S] (US also breathing room)

Definition

› a period of rest from a busy or difficult situation in order to get your energy back or give you more time to think about what to do next: Troubled companies have a 28-day breathing space in which they can reorganise their affairs.allow/give sb some breathing space The change of date gives the two sides some breathing space to strike a last minute deal.

(Definition of breathing space noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)