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Meaning of hold off | Babel Free

Verb CEFR B2

Definitions

  1. To delay (someone or something) temporarily; to keep at bay.
    idiomatic, transitive
  2. To delay commencing (an action until some specified time or event has passed).
    idiomatic, intransitive, transitive

Equivalents

Deutsch abhalten
Español posponer retrasar
Italiano attendere posporre ritardare
한국어 제쳐놓다
Nederlands tegenhouden
Polski odczekać odczekiwać odkładać odłożyć odraczać odroczyć przekładać przełożyć
Português deter reter segurar
Русский откладывать
Svenska avvakta

Examples

“Let's try to hold off the lawyers until we are ready for them.”
“The breakthrough came after 63 minutes as United’s unorthodox defence desperately tried to hold off a spell of sustained pressure.”
“Hold off (on) the decision one more day so I can answer your question.”
“Hold off (on) baking until I get there.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
See all B2 English words →

See also

hold on hold one's alcohol hold one's breath hold one's drink hold one's fire hold one's ground

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