hold over

verb

1. to defer consideration of or action on

2. to postpone for a further period

3. to prolong (a note, chord, etc) from one bar to the next

4. (preposition) to intimidate (a person) with (a threat)

noun

1. an elected official who continues in office after his term has expired

2. a performer or performance continuing beyond the original engagement

Idioms and Phrases

Postpone or delay, as in Let's hold this matter over until the next meeting . [Mid-1800s]

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]

Continue in office past the normal period, as in The committee chair held over until they could find a suitable replacement . [Mid-1600s]

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

That will bring relief to investors and the many Argentine citizens who despise the hold the party has long held over the nation’s political and economic life.

Read more on Barron's

Then, she adds to her positions in individual stocks such as Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft, which she plans to hold over the long term.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet that meeting is now on hold over concerns that the Russian leader isn’t ready to negotiate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Berkshire sold the silver holding over the next decade.

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Rogers cited data indicating the country’s six largest lenders hold over 90% of the country’s banking assets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adjourn 
• bar 
• block 
• defer 
• detain 
• hamper 
• hold 
• impede 
• keep 
• obstruct 
• postpone 
• prevent 
• prolong 
• put off 
• restrict 
• shelve 
• stall 
• stay 
• suspend 
• withhold