What does "hold off" mean?

To delay or wait before doing something Also means to resist or keep at bay.

How do you use "hold off" in a sentence?

Let's hold off on the decision. I'm holding off buying until prices drop. They held off the attack.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: To delay or wait before doing something

推迟；暂缓行动

Retrasar o esperar antes de hacer algo

（行動を）延期する、先延ばしにする

행동을 미루다, 보류하다

Also means to resist or keep at bay.

也有"抵挡"或"阻止"的意思。

También significa resistir o mantener a raya.

「抵抗する」「寄せ付けない」という意味もある。

저지하다, 물리치다의 의미로도 쓰인다.

Base verb: hold

Particle: off

Separable: Yes — the object can go between the verb and particle

Let's hold off on the decision.
让我们暂缓做决定
Aplazemos la decisión
決定は先延ばしにしよう
결정은 보류하자.
I'm holding off buying until prices drop.
我在等价格下降再买
Estoy esperando a que bajen los precios para comprar
値下がりするまで購入を控えている
가격이 내릴 때까지 구매를 미루고 있어요.
They held off the attack.
他们抵挡住了攻击
Resistieron el ataque
彼らは攻撃を食い止めた
그들은 공격을 막아냈다.

Context: delays, waiting, resistance

Tone: cautious

From holding something at a distance.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal