on hold

Idioms  

1. In a state of temporary interruption, but not disconnection, during a telephone call, as in While I was on hold, I checked my calendar for when I could schedule a meeting , or They had to put me on hold while they looked up my account . [c. 1960]

2. In a state of postponement or delay, as in When she was transferred, they had to put their romance on hold . This figurative usage is a broadened sense of def. 1. [ Colloquial ; c. 1970]

---

Example Sentences

“Over and over again it’s been on hold,” the owner, Rupert Garcia, said in an interview.

From Los Angeles Times

However, the prospect of higher prices, pushed up by rising energy costs, means interest rates could remain on hold at their current 3.75% or even be raised again as the Bank aims to head off higher inflation.

From BBC

He said the BOJ should remain on hold in April to ensure that energy costs and supply constraints don’t stifle the rise in underlying inflation—a measure policymakers watch closely as it strips out volatile components like energy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bankers and lawyers say because smaller deals are less of a must-have, buyers are more willing to put them on hold.

From The Wall Street Journal

She put their divorce — finalized in 2016 — on hold.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dormant
• dull
• idle
• immobile
• inoperative
• jobless
• passive
• sedentary
• sluggish
• static
• unemployed
• unused