holding fire
Delaying the attack
Holding fire means waiting before taking action, especially refraining from shooting or attacking.
Military commands to hold fire prevent discharge of weapons.
More broadly, it means pausing before proceeding: I'm holding fire on the decision until I see the numbers.
The phrase implies readiness to act once conditions change.
Agreed halt to fighting
- withholdingKeeping from another
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- haltComplete sudden stop
suspension · deferral · forbearance · caution · prudence · reserve · discretion · judiciousness
Agreed halt to fighting
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
bombardment · barrage · volley · salvo · gunfire · shelling · mortar · suppression
Unresolved confrontation between opponents
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
stalemate · impasse · deadlock · showdown · uncertainty · apprehension · edginess · unease
Remaining in expectation
- readinessState of being prepared
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
expectation · preparation · biding time · poised · standby · pending · imminent · threshold
Surprise strike from concealment
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- timingArt of choosing moments
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
feint · diversion · reconnaissance · flanking · encirclement · positioning · patience · opportunity
ceasefire
Agreed halt to fighting
- withholdingKeeping from another
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
halt · suspension · deferral · forbearance · caution · prudence · reserve · discretion · judiciousness · circumspection
ceasefire
Agreed halt to fighting
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
artillery · bombardment · barrage · volley · salvo · gunfire · shelling · mortar · suppression · engagement
standoff
Unresolved confrontation between opponents
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
crisis · stalemate · impasse · deadlock · showdown · uncertainty · apprehension · edginess · unease · friction
waiting
Remaining in expectation
- readinessState of being prepared
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
vigilance · expectation · preparation · biding time · poised · standby · pending · imminent · threshold · precipice
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
deployment · feint · diversion · reconnaissance · flanking · encirclement · positioning · patience · opportunity · advantage
holding fireopening fire
Beginning to discharge weapons
firing · shooting · engaging · attacking · pulling the trigger
holding fireacting
Temporarily holding position
proceeding · going ahead · launching · striking · pulling the trigger
holding fireattacking
Actively engaging offensively
letting loose · opening up · laying into · tearing into · going after
holding, fire, hold, holds, held, holder, holders, beholden, behold