delay briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delay briefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when requesting a short postponement or pause in an action or event. Example: "Could you please delay briefly while I finish this task?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Speaker John Boehner on Thursday said he was willing to delay briefly a disastrous default of the country's financial obligations but was not willing to reopen the government.

The New York Times

It was the first set anyone had taken off Ferrer in the tournament and, after a rain delay briefly forced the players off court, the Spaniard was the quicker to get back on track.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

His trip, including a meeting with President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, was delayed briefly by the blast near the compound.

The New York Times

The game was delayed briefly after the second inning when the Braves pitching coach, Leo Mazzone, fainted and fell onto the dugout floor, leaving him with a bloody nose.

The New York Times - Sports

The game was delayed briefly in the fourth inning when a beer vendor dropped a case of beer cans onto the field near the Yankees' on-deck circle.

The New York Times - Sports

Monday night's Mets-Phillies game was delayed briefly because Angel Pagan could not be located when it was his turn to bat.

The New York Times - Sports

Captain Alastair Cook hit a wonderful unbeaten 95 and Craig Kieswetter 72 as England - who were delayed briefly by rain - cantered home after 23.5 overs.

BBC

That meant they had to be changed and the German was delayed briefly when he stopped, causing his brakes to smoke as they overheated for a short time.

BBC

It is observable that when rainfall increases, the NDVI response is delayed briefly, indicating that vegetation vigour response to rainfall is not a spur of the moment.

Pastoralism

The start of the second half was delayed briefly when a sprinkler started spraying water at the Darwen End, and the match was then held up twice as two more went off behind the goal.

BBC

But that seems likely to delay only briefly the arrival of the Grim Reaper.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "delay briefly" when you want to indicate a short, usually unplanned, pause in an action or process. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While acceptable in most situations, avoid using "delay briefly" excessively in highly formal documents. Opt for more precise terms like "postpone momentarily" or "suspend temporarily" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay briefly" functions as a verb phrase, where "delay" is the main verb and "briefly" is an adverb modifying the verb to indicate the short duration of the delay. Ludwig confirms this correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delay briefly" is a grammatically correct and usable way to describe a short postponement. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. While generally acceptable, remember to consider the level of formality required for your writing. For more formal contexts, alternatives such as "postpone momentarily" might be more appropriate. Use "delay briefly" when conveying that an interruption or delay is of short duration, ensuring clear and concise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone momentarily

Emphasizes the very short duration of the postponement.

hold off for a moment

Suggests a temporary suspension of an action.

pause briefly

Focuses on a short interruption in an activity.

suspend temporarily

Indicates a more formal and deliberate short-term interruption.

interrupt shortly

Highlights the interruption aspect, emphasizing the limited duration.

defer for a short time

Implies a more formal and planned postponement to a near time.

put off for a moment

Suggests a less formal postponement.

reschedule quickly

Focuses on the act of rescheduling with minimal delay.

adjourn briefly

Suggests a pause within a meeting or formal setting.

stall for time

Implies delaying for strategic reasons, often to gain an advantage.

FAQs

What does "delay briefly" mean?

The phrase "delay briefly" means to postpone something for a short amount of time or to create a short pause in an action or event.

How can I use "delay briefly" in a sentence?

You can use "delay briefly" to indicate a short pause. For example, "The speaker had to "delay briefly" due to a technical difficulty".

What are some alternatives to "delay briefly"?

You can use alternatives like "postpone momentarily", "hold off for a moment", or "pause briefly" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "delay briefly" or "briefly delay"?

Both "delay briefly" and "briefly delay" are grammatically correct and can be used. However, "delay briefly" is slightly more common. You might also consider other options such as "postpone momentarily".