hold one's fire

hold (one's) fire

1. To cease or pause firing a firearm. Hold your fire, men—wait until they have crested the hill before attacking. Tell your men to hold fire! We surrender!

2. By extension, to stop attacking, harassing, or criticizing someone or something. He's asking his legions of fans to hold their fire in their online attacks against his accuser.

hold one's fire

Refrain from comment or criticism, especially for the time being. For example, Hold your fire, Jim, she's not finished yet, or Nancy decided to hold her fire until she had more information. This expression alludes to refraining from shooting a gun and originated in the military.

See also: fire, hold

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hold inside
hold it
Hold it!
hold liquor
hold mouth the right way
hold my beer
hold no brief for
hold no brief for (someone or something)
hold no brief for somebody/something
hold no brief for something
hold nose
hold of
hold off
hold off doing
hold on
hold on for dear life
hold on to (someone or something) like grim death
hold on to your hat
hold on to your hat!
Hold on!
hold one’s high
hold one’s horses
hold one’s liquor
hold one's breath
hold one's end up
hold one's fire
hold one's head high
hold one's horses
hold one's own
hold one's peace
hold one's temper
hold one's tongue
hold oneself together
hold onto
hold out
hold out an olive branch
hold out an olive branch (to someone)
hold out an/the olive branch
hold out hope
hold out little, etc. hope
hold out on
hold out on (someone or something)
hold out the olive branch
hold out the olive branch (to someone)
hold out/offer an olive branch
hold over
hold own
hold peace
hold promise
hold responsible
Hold some, fold some
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hold on to something like grim death
hold on to them like grim death
hold on to us like grim death
hold on to you like grim death
hold on to your hat
Hold on to your hat!
hold on to your hats
hold on to your hats!
Hold On!
Hold On!
hold one at bay
hold one back
hold one dear
hold one down
hold one in check
hold one in contempt
hold one in the palm of hand
hold one off
hold one over
hold one to
hold one together
hold one up
hold one's
hold one's breath
hold one's breath
hold one's breath
hold one's breath
hold one's breath
hold one's breath
hold one's end up
hold one's fire
hold one's ground
hold one's ground
hold one's ground
hold one's ground
hold one's ground
hold one's ground
hold one's hand
hold one's head high
hold one's head up
hold one's head up high
hold one's horses
hold one's own
hold one's own
hold one's own
hold one's own
hold one's own
hold one's own
hold one's peace
hold one's piece
hold one's temper
hold one's thumbs
hold one's tongue
hold one's tongue
hold one's tongue
hold one's tongue
hold one's tongue
hold one's tongue
hold one’s ground
hold one’s high
hold one’s horses
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