be held off

USAGE SUMMARY

"held off" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the postponement of an event or process. For example: "The meeting was held off until the new member was present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

One of its holdover comedies, "Suburgatory," will be held off until midseason.

The New York Times

Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich reacted angrily, and had to be held off the court by his assistants.

The New York Times

Given sufficient investment, innovation, and determination mother nature can be held off for quite a long time (ask the Dutch).

The Economist

No way that Super Mario can have this many close chances and be held off the score sheet for much longer.

The New York Times

The case for action currently feels so weak that it can be held off with a flat palm of refusal-to-engage.

The Economist

The invasion could not be held off, but now the benefits of good times have also arrived here with full force.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

The weather remains over- cast and cool, but the rain appears to be holding off.

The New York Times

They may be holding off a while.

Forbes

Kayak, which filed its S-1 nearly a year ago, appears to be holding off on its plans go public.

TechCrunch

The ship was held off the Handule area of Harardhere, a pirate hub.

The New York Times

They were held off their game and made to look sluggish.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be held off" when you want to express that something is intentionally delayed or prevented from happening. For example, "The vote will be held off until next week".

Common error

Avoid using "be held off" with concrete nouns that cannot be delayed or prevented in the abstract sense. For instance, instead of saying "The table was held off," consider "The delivery of the table was held off".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be held off" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that something is being delayed or prevented from occurring. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a correct and usable phrase, commonly found in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be held off" is a correct and commonly used passive verb phrase that signifies the postponement or prevention of something. Ludwig AI validates this, and the numerous examples from reputable sources, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrate its versatility across various contexts. While most frequently found in News & Media, it is also present in scientific and general content. When using this phrase, ensure that it aligns with the intended meaning of delaying or preventing an action or event. Remember to avoid using it with concrete nouns that don't logically fit the concept of postponement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be postponed

Focuses specifically on delaying an event or action to a later time.

be delayed

Similar to "be postponed", but implies a temporary suspension.

be put off

Informal synonym for "be postponed".

be suspended

Suggests a temporary interruption, often due to specific circumstances.

be averted

Emphasizes the prevention of something undesirable.

be held back

Similar to "be delayed", implying a restraint or inhibition.

be warded off

Implies protection or defense against something.

be kept at bay

Indicates that something is prevented from approaching or affecting.

be staved off

Describes the act of preventing something from happening, especially something negative.

be fended off

Suggests resisting or repelling something that is attacking.

FAQs

How is "be held off" used in a sentence?

The phrase "be held off" indicates that something is being delayed or prevented. For example, "The decision will "be held off" until all the information is available."

What's a simple way to rephrase "be held off"?

You can replace "be held off" with simpler alternatives like "be postponed", "be delayed", or "be put off" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the event was held off"?

Yes, "the event was held off" is grammatically correct. It means the event was postponed or delayed. The passive construction is commonly used to indicate that an action was deferred to a later time.

What's the difference between "be held off" and "be called off"?

"Be held off" means to delay or postpone something, while "be called off" means to cancel something completely. For example, a meeting might be held off until next week, but a game might be called off due to rain.