could you hold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could you hold" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a polite request for someone to wait or pause for a moment, often in a conversation or phone call. Example: "Could you hold for a moment while I check that information for you?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Could you hold your liquor?

The New Yorker

Could you hold a conversation with him?

The Guardian - Music

Could you hold on a sec?

The Washington Post

"Could you hold off until the next title is published, which may or may not be the Dad as you suggest [smiley face]." So, there you have it.

Independent

"Also, when there are money problems, Russian producers can just tell Russian actors, 'Could you hold off on payments?' I didn't have that opportunity".

The New York Times

(Last month, she got a request from the balcony: "Could you hold your ukulele a little lower, please?") Also on the bill this weekend is the excellent Patsy Monteleone, whom all the other players idolize.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

How could you ever hold a 9 5 job again?

Vice

Could You Be Held Responsible for A Car Accident Caused By Third-Party Hacking?

Cornell University

Could You Be Held Liable For Your Parents' Nursing Home Bill?

Forbes

If only you could see, if only you could hold your head up high.

Independent

You could get your friends or acquaintances to act in the film for you, or you could hold auditions.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could you hold" in a professional context, follow it with an estimate of how long you expect the person to wait (e.g., "Could you hold for a minute while I retrieve the file?") to manage expectations and show consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "could you hold" in emails or written messages where an immediate response isn't expected. Instead, opt for phrases like "I will get back to you shortly" or "I will look into it when I have a moment" to set appropriate response expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could you hold" functions primarily as a polite request or directive, typically used to ask someone to wait or pause briefly. This aligns with Ludwig AI response about its usability and correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could you hold" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase used to politely ask someone to wait. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers contexts in news, media, and wiki sources. While its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for diverse scenarios, it is more fitting for real-time interactions rather than asynchronous communications like email. Alternatives such as "would you mind waiting" offer increased formality, while "hold on" offers an informal alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could you wait

Replaces "hold" with "wait", directly asking someone to remain available.

can you hold

Uses "can" instead of "could", making the request slightly less formal.

would you hold

Employs "would" to express a conditional request, making it polite.

hold on a moment

A shortened version of the request, implying a brief pause.

please wait

A straightforward and polite request for someone to wait.

can you give me a second

Asks for a brief pause to attend to something.

would you mind waiting

Asks if someone objects to waiting, implying politeness.

bear with me a moment

Requests patience while dealing with a task or issue.

allow me a moment

Requests a short period of time to handle something.

please be patient

Implores someone to exhibit tolerance, requesting a wait.

FAQs

How do I politely ask someone to wait using "could you hold"?

You can use "could you hold" in various scenarios, such as on the phone or during a conversation, followed by a brief explanation, like "could you hold for a moment while I check something?"

What can I say instead of "could you hold" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "would you mind waiting" or "please wait".

Is it appropriate to use "could you hold" in an email?

While "could you hold" is generally used for real-time interactions, it is less suitable for emails. In written communication, consider using "I will get back to you shortly" or "I will investigate that when I have the chance".

What is the difference between "could you hold" and "hold on"?

"Could you hold" is a polite request for someone to wait, while "hold on" is a more informal and direct way of asking someone to wait. The level of formality can guide you into which of them to use.