keep it on hold

USAGE SUMMARY

"keep it on hold" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations where you want to pause or delay something. For example: "Let's keep the project on hold until we have a better understanding of our budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The earnings construct at IBM will keep it on hold.

Forbes

In most jobs there are ways to cover the work, keep it on hold or manage your commitments in advance.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

SINCE cutting the base rate to 5% in April the Bank of England has kept it on hold.

The Economist

If he keeps on holding it, he may get chances towards the end of sets.

BBC

It kept its hold on medicine until well into the 20th century.

The New York Times - Health

Mean degree was calculated by species kept on holding for the categories that had ≥5 holdings in, for all map-based CP definitions and area-weighted tessellation.

BMC Veterinary Research

"BuThatalso learned trip not everything to do with sex is sexy".

Vice

From the Gold Rush days through the glittering age of Hollywood to the postwar boom, it has kept its hold on the nation's imagination.

Huffington Post

However, one limitation of area-weighted tessellation is that it does not identify the variations in mean degree under map-based CP definitions by livestock species kept on holding (and potentially other predictors of degree as well).

BMC Veterinary Research

I kept on holding her, even when we were out of the water and on the pavement.

The New York Times

Have your helper pet the cat and try to keep it in place by holding on to its body without hurting it or scaring it too much.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep it on hold", clearly state the reason for the delay and the expected duration to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Let's keep the marketing campaign on hold until we finalize the budget."

Common error

Avoid using "keep it on hold" without specifying whether the delay is temporary or indefinite. This can lead to confusion and uncertainty among stakeholders. Always provide a timeline or trigger for when the hold will be lifted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep it on hold" functions primarily as a directive or an instruction to temporarily suspend or delay something. Ludwig AI suggests that it is correct and usable in written English. It signifies a decision to postpone action or progress until a later time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep it on hold" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression that means to temporarily suspend or delay something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not overly common, it appears in various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Wiki. It's best practice to use the phrase with a clear indication of the reason for and expected duration of the hold. Alternative phrases like "put it on pause" or "delay it for now" can be used depending on the desired nuance. The phrase is generally neutral in register, making it suitable for a range of communication scenarios. The sources show a variety of reputable publications use the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put it on pause

Replaces "keep" with "put" and "hold" with "pause", emphasizing a temporary interruption.

suspend it temporarily

Replaces the entire phrase to highlight the suspension is not permanent.

delay it for now

Focuses on the delay aspect, indicating postponement to a later time.

hold off on it

Uses a phrasal verb to suggest postponing action.

table it for the time being

Implies putting something aside for future consideration.

keep it in abeyance

Replaces "on hold" with a more formal term, "in abeyance", which means temporary inactivity.

shelve it temporarily

Suggests placing something aside, possibly for a longer period.

freeze it in place

Emphasizes maintaining the current state without changes.

put a moratorium on it

Introduces a formal suspension or prohibition.

maintain the status quo

Shifts the focus to preserving the existing conditions rather than an active delay.

FAQs

How can I use "keep it on hold" in a sentence?

You can use "keep it on hold" to indicate a temporary suspension or postponement. For example, "We've decided to "keep it on hold" until we secure additional funding."

What does "keep it on hold" mean?

"Keep it on hold" means to temporarily delay or suspend something, with the intention of resuming it later. It's similar to saying "pause" or "delay."

What are some alternatives to "keep it on hold"?

Alternatives to "keep it on hold" include phrases like "put it on pause", "delay it for now", or "suspend it temporarily", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "keep it on hold" formal or informal?

"Keep it on hold" is generally considered to be neutral and can be used in both professional and informal contexts. However, in very formal settings, you might prefer a more precise term like "keep it in abeyance".