hold off
Keep at bay
Hold off means to delay or wait before acting: Let's hold off on making a decision until we have more information.
It also means to keep at a distance or resist: The defenders held off the attack, She held off her creditors for another month.
The phrase suggests restraint—whether deliberate postponement or active resistance against pressure.
keep at bay
rebuff · repulse · thwart · counter · parry · defend · withstand · deter · beat back · turn away
postpone
Delay to later time
suspend · stall · hesitate · shelve · reschedule · adjourn · procrastinate · stay · linger · tarry
- doing nothingdo nothing, stand still, sit tight, stay put, keep still
- defendprotect, shield, guard, block, resist
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- resistresist, oppose, defy, rebuff, refuse
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
hold offproceed
Move forward, continue
go ahead · act now · move forward · press on · jump in
hold offengage
Actively participate or connect
commit · plunge in · take the plunge · go for it · pull the trigger
hold, off, held, holder, hold up, holding, uphold, hold back, withhold