hold over
Britishverb
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to defer consideration of or action on
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to postpone for a further period
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to prolong (a note, chord, etc) from one bar to the next
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(preposition) to intimidate (a person) with (a threat)
noun
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an elected official who continues in office after his term has expired
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a performer or performance continuing beyond the original engagement
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Postpone or delay, as in Let's hold this matter over until the next meeting . [Mid-1800s]
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Keep something in a position or state beyond the normal period, as in The film was to be held over for another week . [First half of 1900s]
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Continue in office past the normal period, as in The committee chair held over until they could find a suitable replacement . [Mid-1600s]
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hold something over someone . Have an advantage or use a threat to control someone. For example, They knew he'd been caught shoplifting and were sure to hold it over him . [Second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The men's individual figure skating competition will be held over two days -- the short programme on Tuesday, February 10 and the free skate on Friday, February 13.
From Barron's
Police believed neglect played a role in the boy’s death, but struggled to get cooperation from members of the religious group due to the extensive control the Martins held over their followers, authorities said.
From Los Angeles Times
I know last time it was David Warner and Stuart Broad had a bit of a hold over him at the top of the order.
From BBC
Celtic thought they could take a gamble on Nancy because they couldn't imagine a world where any other side could rival their hold over the league title, their bread and butter.
From BBC
IndiGo and Air India, which together hold over 90% of the market, have ordered nearly 1,500 planes over the next decade, highlighting soaring passenger demand.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
