hold
- noun
- /hoʊld/
- The judge put the case on hold, stating that further proceedings would be delayed until new evidence was presented.
- put on hold
No more sending letters or waiting on hold making freaking phone calls.
- No more sending letters or waiting on hold making freaking phone calls.
- The slave is forced to put desire on hold.
- So your family is just on hold on hold on hold.
Examples
-
But let's put that on hold for a few weeks.
-
And I put school on hold to take care of him and my children.
-
Can I just put you on hold for a second, please?
-
"Many of our projects had to be put on hold while the engineers were training," Nelson added.
Academic text (1995) -
Currently, the final form of the Pedagogy test is on hold for the academic year 1995-96.
Academic text (1996) -
For the moment, his travel plans are on hold, he says. "That's ominous."
Fiction book (1995) -
Educators cannot put their decisions on hold until numerous high-quality research studies are conducted on their particular situation.
Academic text (2012) -
Due to the pandemic, many projects were put on hold as everyone adapted to new safety regulations.
-
She decided to put her travel plans on hold until the situation improved and it was safe to fly.
Synonyms
A time when something happens later than planned
A period of time spent staying in one place expecting someone or something
A short time when something stops or is delayed
A temporary stop of an activity or service
A time when movement or activity stops completely
A pause in an activity or series that is usually temporary
A delay that stops something from moving forward
A delay that makes an event or activity happen later than planned
A delay between an event and its effect
A situation with no progress or decisions while people wait
A big delay that stops or slows progress
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
To feel angry at someone for something they did in the past that hurt you
- Informal
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever
- Informal
To have the only responsibility for a hard problem when others avoid it
- Slang
A joking request to someone to hold your drink before doing something daring
- Slang
A joking way to say you will try something daring or foolish after someone else does
To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both
Compounds
- NSFW
A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out
- Jargon
A position where someone wraps their legs around an opponent's body or head and presses their feet together to squeeze
- Jargon
A wrestler wraps their legs around someone's body or head and squeezes them with the feet
How Long
Surface Forms
Etymology
The noun hold meaning a pause or being kept waiting comes from Old English healdan, 'to keep', which is why being 'on hold' means being kept waiting.