hold the time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold the time" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear in meaning.
It could be used in contexts where one is asking to pause or take note of the current time, but it is not standard. Example: "Please hold the time while I gather my thoughts."

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

caller-time and callee-time hold the time spent on this edge from the caller's or the callee's perspective.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Things fall apart, and centers don't hold — the time has come to shine a light on the margins.

The New Yorker

We are the ones who hold the time lines and calendars in our heads, who have to surrender space in our bodies and clear time in our lives.

The New York Times - Magazine

For instance, he said, the molecular clock concept still should hold: "The time spans involved - 500 million years, 700 million years - are so huge that a little wobble doesn't mean that much". Neither Jukes nor Kimura concedes even that much.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Meetings are often put on the calendar without a particular goal in mind — simply to hold the time — and, as a result, the cart often drives the horse; people meet simply because they feel they must.

Harvard Business Review

The final portion of Auerbach's Gavlak exhibition focuses on bookshelves, both the knowledge they hold, the time they span and the signs they signify about their owners.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

While other news organizations had the same problems — and many far worse — readers hold The Times to a higher standard.

The New York Times

Beaumont held the time record previously, completing the journey in 195 days in 2008.

The Guardian

Today they were holding the time trials to determine the starting position for tomorrow's race.

Forbes

Buttock exercise: squeeze the buttocks 10 times, and hold the 10th time for 10 seconds.

Huffington Post

Does Letwin really hold the all-time regulation record?

The Telegraph

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting someone to reserve time, provide a clear and compelling reason to ensure they understand the importance of protecting that time slot.

Common error

Avoid using "hold the time" when you actually mean to "manage time" efficiently. "Hold the time" implies a reservation, not general time management.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold the time" functions primarily as a request or directive to reserve a specific period. While grammatically correct, Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is not standard and might be unclear.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

20%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically sound, the phrase "hold the time" is not a standard expression in English and may cause confusion. Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting it might be unclear to some. The phrase aims to reserve a specific period, but more common and explicit alternatives like "reserve the time", "schedule the time", or "block out the time" are preferable. These alternatives ensure clearer communication and avoid potential misinterpretations. Therefore, while "hold the time" isn't incorrect, it's best to opt for more conventional phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

manage the time

Focuses on efficiently using available time.

schedule the time

Emphasizes the act of planning and allocating time for specific activities.

reserve the time

Highlights setting aside time for a particular purpose, preventing it from being used for something else.

allocate the time

Stresses the distribution of time among various tasks or activities.

block out the time

Suggests dedicating a specific period to a task, making it unavailable for other uses.

safeguard the time

Implies protecting time from interruptions or distractions.

set aside the time

Similar to reserving, but can also imply prioritizing a task.

suspend time

Conveys the idea of temporarily stopping the passage of time.

pause the clock

Suggests a temporary halt, similar to stopping a timer.

freeze the moment

Implies capturing a specific point in time, often used figuratively.

FAQs

What does "hold the time" mean?

"Hold the time" generally means to reserve or block off a specific period for a particular activity or event. It suggests a temporary dedication of time, preventing it from being used for other purposes.

How can I use "hold the time" in a sentence?

You can use "hold the time" in a sentence such as: "Please "hold the time" on Tuesday afternoon for a meeting to discuss the project's progress." Note that while grammatically sound, this phrasing isn't very standard.

What can I say instead of "hold the time"?

You can use alternatives like "reserve the time", "schedule the time", or "block out the time" depending on the context.

Is "hold the time" a common phrase?

While grammatically correct, "hold the time" is not a very common phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is not standard and might be unclear. Alternatives like "reserve the time" or "schedule the time" are generally preferred.