held fire
Withheld the attack
Held fire is the past tense of hold fire, meaning to refrain from shooting or attacking.
Literally, soldiers or police hold fire when ordered not to discharge weapons: The troops held fire until the civilians cleared the area.
Figuratively, to hold fire is to delay action or withhold criticism: She held fire on her objections until she had more information.
Delay until later
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- deferDelay or submit
- postponeDelay to later time
- suspendHalt or hang temporarily
hesitate · bide time · stall · linger · withhold · refrain · stay · moratorium
Calm during delays
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- forbearancePatient self-control, delayed enforcement
- composureEmotional self-control
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
willpower · moderation · steadiness · reserve · constraint · inhibition · suppression · coolheadedness
Careful, wise judgment
- warinessCautious distrust
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
forethought · judiciousness · carefulness · deliberation · heedfulness · watchfulness · alertness · precaution
Deliberately planned for advantage
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- timingArt of choosing moments
advantage · leverage · gambit · military · deployment · command · warfare · ambush
Unresolved confrontation between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
showdown · face-off · Mexican standoff · brinkmanship · powder keg · tinderbox · volatility · uncertainty
wait
Delay until later
suspend · hesitate · bide time · stall · linger · withhold · refrain · stay · moratorium · respite
patience
Calm during delays
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- forbearancePatient self-control, delayed enforcement
- composureEmotional self-control
discipline · willpower · moderation · steadiness · reserve · constraint · inhibition · suppression · coolheadedness · equanimity
prudence
Careful, wise judgment
- warinessCautious distrust
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
circumspection · forethought · judiciousness · carefulness · deliberation · heedfulness · watchfulness · alertness · precaution · skepticism
strategic
Deliberately planned for advantage
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- positioningArranging in specific locations
timing · advantage · leverage · gambit · military · deployment · command · warfare · ambush · flanking
standoff
Unresolved confrontation between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
deadlock · showdown · face-off · Mexican standoff · brinkmanship · powder keg · tinderbox · volatility · uncertainty · apprehension
held fireopened fire
Began discharging weapons
fired · shot · attacked · engaged · pulled the trigger
held firelet loose
Remove restraints from
lashed out · attacked · fired back · counterattacked · went off
held, fire, hold, holds, holding, holdings, holder, holders, beholden