on hold

See also: onhold

English

Alternative forms

• on-hold (directly before a noun only)

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

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.

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.

Translations

delayed; postponed; suspended — see postponed,‎ suspended

waiting on a telephone call

• German: in der Warteschleife gesteckt, in der Leitung gewartet, auf das Abheben gewartet

on reserve

• Finnish: varattuna, varalla (fi)
• German: reserviert (de)
• Hungarian: félretéve (hu)

pertaining to a telephone hold state

• Dutch: in de wachtstand
• German: Warteschleifen-, in der Warteschleife (postpositioned)

See also

• hold on

Anagrams

• hold on