on hold
Idioms-
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]
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Companies have learned to live with the uncertainty of AI changes, tariffs and war, and see less need to put their plans on hold.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
Nevertheless, investors were worried that a labor market on the mend would make it more difficult for the Federal Reserve to justify leaving interest rates on hold.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
For instance, SolarEdge started developing a transformer product around six years ago, but put the effort on hold in 2024 because it got too expensive.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
The United States and Iran have both signalled that they would prefer not to go back to the war that has been on hold since the ceasefire was announced on 8 April.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
I argue that it’s all worth it, the time apart, putting the family thing on hold, because she’s great.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
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.
