holding pattern
Circling before landing
A holding pattern is a circular flight path aircraft follow while waiting to land, typically when airports are congested.
The figurative extension is more common: any state of delay or suspension where progress stops while awaiting resolution.
The project has been in a holding pattern since the budget freeze.
We're stuck in a holding pattern until the boss decides.
Total cessation of movement
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- limboState of uncertain waiting
- stasisState of inactivity
- suspendedHalted or hanging temporarily
frozen · gridlock · impasse · deadlock · plateau · doldrums · stuck · treading water
Regulated overhead flight zone
- traffic controlRegulating road movement
- approachWay of handling something
- flight pathPlanned aerial trajectory
- sequencingDetermining element order
radar · stacking · clearance · tower · ATC · altitude · vector · pilot
State of uncertain waiting
- indecisionFailure to decide
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- unresolvedLacking final determination
up in the air · provisional · noncommittal · wait-and-see · undecided · indefinite · suspense · pending
Delaying action strategically
- tactical pausePurposeful brief delay
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- positioningArranging in specific locations
buying time · hedging · wait-and-see · watchful waiting · keeping options open
Delaying to later
- deferralAct of delaying action
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- hiatusBreak in activity
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
interim · moratorium · adjournment · wait-and-see · queue · backlog · bottleneck · pending
standstill
Total cessation of movement
suspended · frozen · gridlock · impasse · deadlock · plateau · doldrums · stuck · treading water · spinning wheels
airspace
Regulated overhead flight zone
- traffic controlRegulating road movement
- approachWay of handling something
- flight pathPlanned aerial trajectory
sequencing · radar · stacking · clearance · tower · ATC · altitude · vector · pilot · aircraft
limbo
State of uncertain waiting
- indecisionFailure to decide
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
unresolved · up in the air · provisional · noncommittal · wait-and-see · undecided · indefinite · suspense · pending · neither here nor there
biding time
Delaying action strategically
- tactical pausePurposeful brief delay
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- contingencyUncertain possible event
positioning · buying time · hedging · wait-and-see · watchful waiting · keeping options open
postponement
Delaying to later
- deferralAct of delaying action
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- hiatusBreak in activity
pause · interim · moratorium · adjournment · wait-and-see · queue · backlog · bottleneck · pending · on hold
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, flight, airplane
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
- impassesimpasse, deadlock, stalemate, standstill, gridlock
- stagnationstagnation, standstill, stasis, deadlock, stalemate
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
holding patternfinal approach
Landing's concluding flight path
landing · descent · touchdown · direct approach · direct route
holding patterndecisive action
Firm choice, promptly executed
breakthrough · progress · advancement · moving forward · taking action
holding patternconclusion
End or deduction
resolution · completion · closure · finality · arrival
pattern, holder, holding, uphold, patterned, withhold, holds, behold, patterns