on hold

• on-hold (directly before a noun only)

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

on hold

1. (idiomatic) Delayed; postponed; suspended.

   This project is on hold until we can get more information.

   • 2021 May 5, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Heathrow Western Rail Access scheme 'on hold'”, in RAIL, number 930, page 26:

     Plans to build a western rail route into Heathrow Airport have been put on hold, with Network Rail saying that staff working on the scheme have been moved to other projects.

   • 2025 May 13, Patrik Jonsson, “Beat cops to game wardens, Florida expands ‘army’ of immigration enforcers”, in The Christian Science Monitor:

     A new law used to justify such arrests was put on hold by a federal judge in Miami on April 2, but that didn't stop Florida police from continuing to enforce it.

2. Waiting on a telephone call.

   I have been on hold for 45 minutes listening to a recording about how important my call is to them.

3. On reserve; being held for someone.

   I have a book on hold for me at the library.

4. Pertaining to a telephone hold state.
   • 1999, New Scientist:

     Now James Kellaris, a professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati, reports that the sexes respond differently to onhold^[sic] music.

• hold on

• hold on