To hold a pause

USAGE SUMMARY

"to hold a pause" is a correct use of English.
It is an idiomatic expression which means "to take a brief break, or to hesitate before continuing with something". For example, you might say "I held a pause before giving my answer, unsure of how to respond".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But his fellow performers recognised his talents, with Cleese crediting Corbett with teaching him how to hold a pause.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On Thursday, he paused to hold a press conference at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, announcing the endorsement of several state and local politicians.

The New York Times

Both pieces begin similarly, with a lone woman traveling along a left-to-right diagonal, then pausing to hold an angled pose.

The New York Times - Arts

At the end, the band held a pause, then blasted back into music, transcendentally.

The New Yorker

It was a master class of small-screen technique, the way he held a pause, baring a grimace and waiting out a line before slowly delivering it.

The New York Times

But when she holds a pause indefinitely, eyes closed, as her band wait for her cue, it's genuinely spellbinding, even at a distance, to see a musician match performance to lyrics, soul with song – to commit wholeheartedly to the world she has created.

The Guardian - Music

Panning is tricky, I seem to have to hold cmd, click, pause, and then drag.

F1000Research

He fought to hold back tears, pausing several times, as he told Judge Denny Chin of Federal District Court in Manhattan that he was ashamed of his illegal activities and the embarrassment he had caused his former colleagues at McKinsey.

The New York Times

In case you do have an awkward pause, tell him to hold on a second and put down the phone.

WikiHow

Every so often, as she worked, the cameramen filing up to the nest asked her to pause and hold a particular egg at a more photogenic angle.

The New York Times - Magazine

To put water on the face simply, blow in the dog's face, causing him to hold his breath, and pause, then pour!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to hold a pause" when you want to emphasize control and intention in creating a break or moment of silence. It suggests a deliberate act rather than an accidental occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "to hold a pause" when you actually mean "to hold on", which implies waiting or maintaining a grip, not creating a break in activity or speech.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to hold a pause" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to describe an action taken to create a deliberate break or moment of silence. Ludwig AI affirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to hold a pause" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to describe a deliberate act of creating a break or moment of silence. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's important to use it intentionally for emphasis, suspense, or reflection, as evidenced by the limited examples available. The phrase is versatile, fitting into both formal and informal contexts, though most commonly found in News & Media. Be mindful not to confuse it with similar-sounding phrases like "to hold on", which have different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

To generate a pause

Highlights the action of causing a break or interruption.

To interject a pause

Implies inserting a break within an ongoing process.

To take a break

Focuses on the act of interrupting an activity for rest or respite.

To create a lull

Emphasizes the creation of a quiet or inactive period.

To insert a delay

Focuses on adding a period of waiting or postponement.

To introduce a silence

Highlights the addition of quietness or stillness.

To establish a hiatus

Suggests setting up a more formal or defined break.

To engineer a silence

Implies deliberately creating a period of quiet.

To allow a respite

Suggests providing a temporary suspension of activity or intensity.

To effect a stoppage

Emphasizes causing something to come to a halt.

FAQs

How can I use "to hold a pause" in a sentence?

You can use "to hold a pause" to describe a deliberate break or moment of silence, such as "The speaker chose "to hold a pause" for dramatic effect".

What does "to hold a pause" mean?

"To hold a pause" means to intentionally create a break or moment of silence, often for emphasis or dramatic effect.

What are some alternatives to "to hold a pause"?

Alternatives include "to take a break", "to create a lull", or "to introduce a silence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts might I use "to hold a pause"?

You might use "to hold a pause" in performance, public speaking, writing, or even in everyday conversation when you want to create a deliberate moment of quiet.