Meaning & use
holding off
Last updated
“holding off” is a form of “hold off”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbphrasal verb
Delaying a decision or action, usually until a better moment.
Grammar: Usually intransitive, often followed by on or until: she is holding off on buying a car.
Patterns
- hold off on something
- hold off until something
- hold off doing something
We are holding off on the repairs until we get a second quote.
I am holding off buying the tickets until the weather forecast improves.
She is holding off until she has all the facts.
verbphrasal verb
Keeping something threatening, such as rain, attackers or a rival, away or from succeeding.
Grammar: Can take an object placed before or after off: holding the rival off or holding off the rival.
Patterns
- hold something off
- hold off something
The goalkeeper is holding off the attackers with a series of saves.
The rain has been holding off all morning.
Our team is holding off a late challenge from the leaders.
Common combinations
- holding off on a decision
- The board is holding off on a decision until next month.
- holding off a challenge
- She is holding off a challenge from her closest rival.
- holding off the rain
- The clouds are holding off the rain for now.
- holding off until
- I am holding off until the sales start.
- holding off for now
- We are holding off for now but may buy later.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delaying
- Delaying is the more general word, while holding off suggests waiting on purpose for a reason.
- postponing
- Postponing is the more formal choice and usually refers to moving a fixed event to a later date.
- waiting
- Waiting is a neutral word for not acting yet, while holding off suggests a deliberate choice not to act.
- fending off
- Fending off suits attacks and threats only, whereas holding off also covers delaying decisions.
Opposites
Word family
- hold off verb
- the base phrasal verb
- holds off verb
- the third person singular form
- held off verb
- the past tense and past participle
- holdout noun
- a person who refuses to agree or accept
Commonly confused: holding off or holding on?
holding off vs holding on
Holding on means keeping a grip or waiting, while holding off means delaying an action or keeping something away.
Practice
We are holding ___ on buying a new laptop until the prices come down.
Choose one answer.
Hold off on something means to delay it. Hold out, up and over have other meanings and do not take on here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “holding off”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.