sit on

Keep from releasing

To sit on something is literally to rest one's weight on it while seated.

More commonly, the phrase means to delay acting on something or to suppress it: The committee sat on the proposal for months.

To sit on information is to withhold it.

To sit on someone is to restrain or silence them: Management sat on anyone who complained.

delay

postpone

Delay to later time

deferDelay or submit
shelveSuspend or store
tableHorizontal furniture surface

hold off · put off · stall · suppress · withhold · bury · pigeonhole · mothball · back-burner · ice

suppress

quash

Suppress or nullify

stifleSuppress or restrain
silenceTotal lack of sound
withholdRefuse to give

conceal · hide · cover up · censor · hush up · keep quiet · squelch · muzzle · keep secret · bury

occupy

chair

Single-person sitting furniture

benchShared seating surface
sofaMulti-seat cushioned furniture
stoolBackless sitting furniture

couch · throne · perch · ottoman · recliner · pew · armchair · futon · barstool · lap

Categories

everyday mistakesslip, typos, trip, spelling errors, fall
compressioncompress, compression, compressor, compressing, compact
hold downpin, grip, press, secure, fasten

Opposites

information/action suppression

To let go

share · disclose · publish · reveal · divulge

physical position

Depart from transport

dismount · lift off

decision-making pace

sit onact on

Respond by doing

move on · advance · pursue · push forward · expedite

Family

on, sit, seat, sitting, sat, settlement, settling, sits, sitter

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G