holdoff

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A delay or period of waiting before something happens or is done.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a holdoff' or 'the holdoff'. It is often followed by 'on' or 'before'.

   Patterns

   • a holdoff on something
   • a holdoff before something
   • after a holdoff

   There was a short holdoff before the concert started.

   The company announced a holdoff on new hires until next year.

   After a brief holdoff, the referee allowed the game to continue.

2. 2nouncountablesport

   A situation in which one side prevents the other from winning or advancing.

   Grammar: Countable: often used in sports or military contexts, e.g. 'a holdoff by the defense'.

   Patterns

   • a holdoff by someone
   • a holdoff against someone
   • manage a holdoff

   The team's holdoff in the final minutes saved the win.

   Their holdoff against the attack lasted two days.

Word forms

Common combinations

a holdoff on something

There is a holdoff on payments until the contract is signed.

a brief holdoff

After a brief holdoff, the ceremony began.

announce a holdoff

The bank announced a holdoff on interest rate changes.

a holdoff before something

There was a holdoff before the results were released.

Synonyms and how they differ

delay

A delay is a more general word for something happening later than planned; a holdoff often suggests a deliberate pause or a decision to wait.

pause

A pause is a short stop that usually resumes soon; a holdoff can be longer and may involve not starting at all.

postponement

A postponement means an event is moved to a later time; a holdoff can mean waiting before deciding or acting.

Opposites

Word family

hold off phrasal verb

To delay doing something or to stop something from happening.

Commonly confused: holdoff or hold off?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “holdoff”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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