held off until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held off until" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is postponed or delayed until a specific time or event occurs. Example: "The meeting was held off until next week due to scheduling conflicts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

In North Carolina, official decisions about coastal-county evacuations were being held off until Monday or Tuesday.

The New York Times

He claimed that if the gas pinch had held off until 1981 Chrysler would have had a dominant position in the small-car market.

The New Yorker

In contrast to American ski resorts, where the snow held off until late January, Alpine resorts received big snowfalls early in the season, even if the totals tapered off after New Year's.

The New York Times - Travel

The production ends up being more historical porn than historical fiction, with its version of the fatal Frame 313 of the Zapruder film being held off until late in the picture: the money shot.

The New Yorker

But the weather cooperated; a predicted thunderstorm held off until shortly after the last riders finished.

The New York Times - Sports

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

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

If you've been holding off until after the holidays, here's your chance to pick up a decent player for a good price.

TechCrunch

"I'm holding off until I get more answers".

Vice

If there's a surviving spouse, the state holds off until that spouse dies.

Los Angeles Times

Maybe I luck out and the fire holds off until a temperature change is triggered.

Huffington Post

(Most states are holding off until 2015).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "held off until", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or event was delayed and the specific condition or time it was delayed to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using vague time references with "held off until". For example, instead of saying "The decision was held off until later", specify a more concrete timeframe like "The decision was held off until next week" to provide clearer information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held off until" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when an action or event took place in relation to another event. It shows that something was intentionally delayed until a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "held off until" is a versatile tool for indicating that something was intentionally delayed, waiting for a specific condition or time to arrive. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use, particularly within news and media. Understanding its grammatical function as a temporal adverbial phrase and its neutral register can help writers use it effectively. To enhance clarity, avoid vague time references and ensure the context clearly defines the delayed action and its trigger. Alternatives like "postponed until" or "delayed until" offer similar meanings with slight nuances in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed until

Uses a single word to convey the idea of delaying something to a later time.

delayed until

Similar to "postponed until", but may suggest a more significant or unavoidable reason for the delay.

put off until

A more informal way of saying "postponed until".

waited until

Emphasizes the act of waiting rather than the act of delaying.

deferred until

A more formal and official term for postponing something.

adjourned until

Often used in the context of meetings or legal proceedings being postponed.

reserved until

Indicates that something is kept aside or not used until a specific time.

refrained until

Highlights the act of consciously avoiding something until a specific moment.

withheld until

Implies that something is intentionally kept back or not revealed until a certain time.

desisted until

Suggests ceasing an action until a particular event occurs.

FAQs

How can I use "held off until" in a sentence?

You can use "held off until" to indicate that something was postponed or delayed until a specific time or event. For example, "The announcement was "held off until" the end of the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "held off until"?

Alternatives to "held off until" include phrases like "postponed until", "delayed until", or "waited until", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "held off until" or "postponed until"?

Both "held off until" and "postponed until" are correct, but "postponed until" might sound more formal in some contexts. The best choice depends on the tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "held off until" and "waited until"?

"Held off until" implies a deliberate decision to delay something, whereas "waited until" simply indicates that someone waited for something to happen before taking action. The nuance lies in the intention behind the delay.