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hold off

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phrasal verb
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyhold off
he/she/itholds off
present participleholding off
past tenseheld off
past participleheld off
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive] to deliberately delay doing something

    He may decide to hold off for a few days.

    hold off on:

    How much longer can they hold off on political reform?

    hold off doing something:

    She held off calling him until the last possible moment.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hold off
  2. 2
    [transitive] to stop someone who is trying to attack you from coming close

    I held them off with bricks and stones.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hold off
  3. 3
    [transitive] mainly journalism to stop an opponent from starting to win or lead

    Can Woods hold off Singh to take his second Masters?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hold off
  4. 4
    [transitive] to stop something from happening

    They can hold off the vote until the election.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of hold off

This is the British English definition of hold off. View American English definition of hold off.

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