hold off

British  

verb

1. (tr) to keep apart or at a distance

2. to refrain (from doing something)

   he held off buying the house until prices fell slightly

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hold off Idioms  

1. Keep at a distance, resist, delay, as in This payment should hold off the creditors . [Early 1400]

2. Stop or delay from action, as in Let's hold off until we know more . [c. 1600]

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Example Sentences

That may be another reason to hold off until you’re 70.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

It took a 105.71 average, two ton-plus finishes and four 180s to do the job though, and Humphries had to hold off a big fightback as Littler levelled at 5-5 having been 5-2 down.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Robusta, making just his fourth start for trainer Doug O’Neill, took the lead in the upper stretch but could not hold off the winner.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

It is also trying to hold off Paramount, which has embarked on a hostile bid for all of Warner including its cable-network unit, home to CNN, TNT and other channels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

“Decided I’d hold off just yet. Decided to have a look myself. ”

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson