hold your applause

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold your applause" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an informal phrase used to ask someone to wait a moment before applauding. For example: "Thank you for coming out to the show. Before we introduce the next act, let's have a minute of silence to honor our veterans - hold your applause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Audience if you could, hold your applause please.

The New York Times

But hold your applause: this Friday, it's the men's turn to run Bogota all by themselves.

The Economist

Television and theatrical reissues will have to wait a little longer, so hold your applause.

The New York Times

In his dressing room at the Letterman show, he said, "My first column in Iraq was 'Hold Your Applause.' It's not like I've been sitting there on Fox News, saying it's all going great.

The New Yorker

"Among them: Rufus T. Firefly [explosion of applause], J. Cheever Loophole [again] — hold your applause to the end, please — Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush, Otis B. Driftwood, Captain Jeffrey Spaulding … and the one, the only, Groucho".

The New York Times

Thomas L. Friedman's description of the chaos and desperate conditions that exist in many parts of Iraq is a clear reminder of what our priorities as "liberators" must be ("Hold Your Applause," column, April 9).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

At the end of your performance, hold your head high, enjoy the applause, and give the audience a huge, bright-eyed grin.

WikiHow

Hold the applause.

The New York Times

Until then, let's hold the applause.

The New York Times

But I would ask you, please, hold the applause.

The New York Times

The time it has taken for the commission to react suggests observers should hold their applause.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hold your applause" when you need to momentarily pause or defer applause, often to maintain a specific atmosphere or to avoid interrupting a sequence of events. For instance, at a memorial service, you might say, "Before we proceed, let's have a moment of silence; please hold your applause until the end."

Common error

Avoid using "hold your applause" in situations where applause is naturally expected and appropriate, such as immediately after a musical performance or a significant achievement. Saying "hold your applause" in such instances can seem awkward or dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold your applause" functions as an imperative, directly instructing an audience to refrain from applauding at a particular moment. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold your applause" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to politely request a delay in applause, often to maintain order or a specific tone during an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is versatile, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts. When a more formal tone is needed, alternatives such as "please refrain from applauding" may be more appropriate. Conversely, in informal settings, "hold the applause" can be used. While common, it should be used judiciously to avoid seeming dismissive or awkward in situations where applause is naturally expected. Ludwig examples show this phrase in many authoritative resources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold the applause

Shorter, more concise version of the original phrase.

please save your applause

Suggests reserving applause for a later, more appropriate moment.

no applause, please

A simple and direct request to avoid applause.

hold back your clapping

Implies restraining an immediate urge to applaud.

don't applaud yet

Informal and direct instruction not to applaud at the current moment.

please refrain from applauding

More formal and polite alternative, suitable for official announcements.

wait before clapping

Direct and straightforward request to pause before applauding.

withhold your applause

A more formal way of asking people to not applaud.

delay your clapping

Emphasizes postponing the action of clapping specifically.

keep your hands still

Focuses on the physical action of preventing applause.

FAQs

How can I use "hold your applause" in a sentence?

You can use "hold your applause" to politely ask an audience to delay clapping. For example, "Before we begin the awards ceremony, please "hold your applause" until all the nominees are announced."

What does "hold your applause" mean?

"Hold your applause" is a polite request for people to wait before they start clapping, often used to maintain a specific atmosphere or avoid interruptions.

What can I say instead of "hold your applause"?

Alternatives include "please refrain from applauding", "save your applause", or "hold the applause" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "hold your applause"?

It's appropriate when you want to maintain order or a specific tone, such as during a solemn event or before announcing all the winners of an award. It's less appropriate in celebratory contexts where immediate applause is expected.