hold off Idiom, Proverb
hold off
keep away by force The man was able to hold off the police for several hours before he was arrested.
hold off on
delay
"We should hold off on making dinner until your parents arrive."
hold off|hold
v. 1a. To refuse to let (someone) become friendly.
The president's high rank and chilly manner held people off. Compare: KEEP AT A DISTANCE. 1b. To be rather shy or unfriendly.
Perkins was a scholarly man who held off from people. Compare: KEEP AT A DISTANCE. 2. To keep away by fighting; oppose by force.
The man locked himself in the house and held off the police for an hour. 3. To wait before (doing something); postpone; delay.
Jack held off paying for the television set until the dealer fixed it. Mr. Smith held off from building while interest rates were high.hold off
1. To anticipate addition or article from advancing or approaching; to accumulate addition or article at bay. A noun or pronoun can be acclimated amid "hold" and "off." We can't authority off the badge for abundant longer—they're activity to acquisition us!2. To adjournment to booty action. A noun or pronoun can be acclimated amid "hold" and "off." I apperceive you appetite to alpha on that project, but authority off until I get these questions answered by the boss.Learn more: hold, offhold someone or something off
1. and accumulate addition or article off Lit. to do article concrete to accumulate addition or article away; to avoid addition or article off. Tom was aggravating to rob us, but we managed to authority him off. We captivated off the attackers. I couldn't accumulate off the reporters any longer.
2. Fig. to accomplish addition or article wait. I apperceive a lot of bodies are cat-and-mouse to see me. Hold them off for a while longer. See what you can do to authority off the reporters.Learn more: hold, offhold off (on addition or something)
to adjournment accomplishing article apropos addition or something. Please authority off on Tom until we account the added candidates. I will authority off on this job for a while.Learn more: hold, offhold off
1. Keep at a distance, resist, delay, as in This acquittal should authority off the creditors. [Early 1400]
2. Stop or adjournment from action, as in Let's authority off until we apperceive more. [c. 1600] Learn more: hold, offhold off
v.
1. To accumulate addition or article at a distance; abide addition or something: The firm's advocate captivated the creditors off. We captivated off the reporters as continued as we could.
2. To stop or adjournment accomplishing something: Let's authority off until we accept added data. I captivated off affairs a abode until I had a down payment.
Learn more: hold, off