put (something) on hold

put (something) on hold

To pause, postpone, or suspend an activity. We've had to put the sale on hold while we figure out why the website keeps crashing. Do you mind if we put date night on hold for a few weeks until we get done with this project at work?
See also: hold, on, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put someone or something on hold

to put someone or someone's telephone call on an electronic hold. (See also put someone on hold.) Please don't put me on hold! I'm in a hurry! I am going to have to put your call on hold.
See also: hold, on, put

put someone on hold

Fig. to stop all activity or communication with someone. (See also put someone or something on hold.) John put Ann on hold and started dating Mary. "You can't just put me on hold!" cried Ann.
See also: hold, on, put

put something on hold

to postpone something; to stop the progress of something. (See also put someone on hold; put someone or something on hold.) They put the project on hold until they got enough money to finish it. Sorry, but we must put your plan on hold.
See also: hold, on, put
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

put something on hold

COMMON If you put something on hold, you decide not to do it or deal with it until a later time. We'll have to put the project on hold until we get some more money. They had normal family lives which couldn't be put on hold every time she felt ill. Note: You can also just say that something is on hold. A few months later it was announced that the deal was on hold, perhaps permanently. Note: This expression is probably from the term used in the past when someone making a telephone call waited for the operator to connect them.
See also: hold, on, put, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

put something on hold

temporarily defer taking action on or pursuing something
Originally, to put someone on hold was literally to make them wait for a telephone connection.
See also: hold, on, put, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • put (one's) back to (something)
  • put back to
  • put (something) in with (someone or something)
  • put (something) on the block
  • put on the block
  • put (one's) back into (something)
  • put a cap on
  • put a cap on (something)
  • put a hex on (someone or something)
  • put (something) on the shelf