Lexic.us

Definition of Hold off

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

2. Verb. Wait before acting. "They hold off to move "; "The scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment"

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 (current term) 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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