put on hold

put someone or something on hold

to put someone or someone's telephone call on an electronic hold. (See also put someone on hold.) Please don't put me on hold! I'm in a hurry! I am going to have to put your call on hold.

See also: hold, put

put someone on hold

Fig. to stop all activity or communication with someone. (See also put someone or something on hold.) John put Ann on hold and started dating Mary. "You can't just put me on hold!" cried Ann.

See also: hold, put

put something on hold

to postpone something; to stop the progress of something. (See also put someone on hold; put someone or something on hold.) They put the project on hold until they got enough money to finish it. Sorry, but we must put your plan on hold.

See also: hold, put

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put something on hold

to decide that you will leave an activity until a later time (usually passive) The project has been put on hold until our financial position improves.

See have all the aces, hold at arm's length, have all the cards, hold in check, hang on for dear life, hold end up, hang fire, hang on like grim death, hold ground, hold a gun to head, hold out an olive branch, hold the purse strings

See also: hold, put