hold fire

The phrase "hold fire" originates from military commands but is now widely used to signify delaying action or criticism in various contexts.

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Definition

B2General

(idiomatic, informal)To delay or postpone taking action or making a decision.

Example

The committee decided to hold fire on the new policy until more data was available.

C1Military

(technical)To stop shooting or to delay firing a weapon.

Example

The commander ordered the troops to hold fire until the target was in range.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hold fire":

hold one's fire hang fire return fire cease fire take fire open fire dry fire fire out hold off fire off draw fire under fire false fire hold back back fire fire away line of fire firing point hold it walking fire hold to hold in fight fires fire in the hole hold with static fire hold it in cold fire fire and forget shoot back firing line put out a fire hold the fort pull the trigger stand down hold it down bin fire hold over