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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

hold one's fire en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To refrain from criticism.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
held one's fire Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
held one's fire Tense=Past lexicographic
holds one's fire Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
holding one's fire Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Antonyms

return fire

hold one's fire en · X

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. Do not discharge a weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder; now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.
  2. (colloquial, idiomatic) Wait, don't retaliate, calm down, be quiet.
    • Hold your fire and let me explain.