hold back on
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To wait for a period of time before proceeding.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
You should hold back on starting to cook.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hold back on” mean?
To wait for a period of time before proceeding.
Is “hold back on” formal or informal?
hold back on is generally informal.