Definition of Hold off

1. Verb. Resist and fight to a standoff. "Dallas had enough of a lead to hold the Broncos off"

Generic synonyms: Hold Out, Resist, Stand Firm, Withstand

2. Verb. Wait before acting. "They hold off to move "; "The scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment"
Exact synonyms: Hold Back, Wait
Generic synonyms: Act, Move
Specialized synonyms: Hold Out, Delay
Derivative terms: Wait, Waiter

Definition of Hold off

1. Verb. (idiomatic transitive) To delay someone or something temporarily; to keep at bay. ¹

2. Verb. (idiomatic transitive) To delay commencing (an action until some specified time or event has passed). ¹

3. Verb. (idiomatic intransitive) To delay commencing an action (until some specified time or event has passed). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hold Off

hold back
hold baggage
hold close
hold dear
hold down
hold fast
hold fire
hold firm
hold forth
hold hands
hold hard
hold hostage
hold in
hold it
hold luggage
hold off
hold on
hold one's breath
hold one's head above water
hold one's head high
hold one's horses
hold one's liquor
hold one's nerve
hold one's own
hold one's pee
hold one's tongue
hold one's urine
hold one's water
hold open

Literary usage of Hold off

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1898)
"hold off! Keep at л distance. In Hold On. Cling fast ; to persist. The idea is clinging firmly to ..."

2. A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary, and Expositor of the English Language: To by John Walker (1806)
"S. A one's self, to continue in luck; to hold off, plant. to keep at a distance ; without closing with of liquids containing sixty-three gallons ..."

3. The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton, Arthur Richard Shilleto (1896)
"... and many Lovers confess, when they came in their Mistress' presence, they could not hold off their eyes, ..."

4. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine (1822)
"hold off,I say! hold off! hold off ! Keep the ]>cace, in the King's паше. Hold oft', you there ! ..."

5. A critical pronouncing dictionary and expositor of the English language by John Walker (1797)
"O carry on, to continue j to hold forth, И «dibit ; to hold in, to govern by the bridle, 'o rtii/ain in general ; to hold off, to keep at ..."

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