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

References in periodicals archive ?

While concern at the government's negligence is legitimate, one should like to hold one's fire for some time for three reasons.

A key to open democracy

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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 no brief for, to
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hold off doing
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hold on to your hat!
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hold one's tongue, to
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hold out an olive branch (to someone)
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hold out little, etc. hope
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hold out on (someone or something)
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hold out the olive branch (to someone)
hold out/offer an olive branch
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hold promise
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hold on you
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Hold on, Peace Exists
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