Dictionary

hold off en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To delay (someone or something) temporarily; to keep at bay.
   • The breakthrough came after 63 minutes as United’s unorthodox defence desperately tried to hold off a spell of sustained pressure. 2014 November 2, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk:
   • Let's try to hold off the lawyers until we are ready for them.
2. (idiomatic, intransitive, transitive) To delay commencing (an action until some specified time or event has passed).
   • Hold off (on) the decision one more day so I can answer your question.
   • Hold off (on) baking until I get there.

Forms

Deriveds

holdoff

Relateds

hold on · forhold · hold up · fend off · hold it

Synonyms

postpone · put off

Translations (26)

pl przekładać (to delay commencing) · pt segurar (to delay commencing) · pt segurar (to delay someone or something) · es retrasar (to delay someone or something) · pl odroczyć (to delay someone or something) · pl odłożyć (to delay commencing) · pt deter (to delay someone or something) · pl odczekać (to delay someone or something) · pl odraczać (to delay someone or something) · pt deter (to delay commencing) · pl odkładać (to delay commencing) · ru откла́дывать (to delay commencing) · it posporre (to delay commencing) · nl tegenhouden (to delay someone or something) · pl odłożyć (To delay commencing an action) · it attendere (To delay commencing an action) · pl odkładać (To delay commencing an action) · pl odczekiwać (to delay someone or something) · es posponer (to delay commencing) · ru откла́дывать (To delay commencing an action) · it ritardare (to delay someone or something) · pl przełożyć (to delay commencing) · pt reter (to delay someone or something) · ru откла́дывать (to delay someone or something) · es posponer (To delay commencing an action) · es posponer (to delay someone or something)