What is the difference between Hold On or Hold Off?

First of all, let us talk about the term "hold on." Hold on is more of an idiomatic expression. It can be used in a sentence to mean many things, but the way it is being used would give us a good idea of what it means in a sentence.

Hold can mean to grip or grasp something, to wait or be patient, to keep, and probably more. "Hold on" is not a single word, though, but it is an expression that deals with action, hence, making it a verb. On the other side of the terms, hold off is also an idiomatic expression.

Though it is not a word, the combination of the two words "hold" and "off" gives an action. Hence, making it a verb. "Hold off" in a sentence can basically mean "to repel" or "to delay" or "to keep at a distance", and similar others.

Hold on means to wait for someone or something, it can also be defined as the act of keeping a firm grip on something and also the act of keeping a telephone connection open.

Here are sentences using hold on.

1. Hold on, till I am done eating.
2. Peter now finds it difficult to climb stairs without holding onto a railing.
3. Please hold on while I transfer the line to Mr. Kevin.

Hold off means to postpone, to keep a distance, to repel, to defer, or keep back. Example of sentences using hold off include

1. Hold off the board meeting since the head of directors is not in town.
2. Hold off preparation for the birthday party as the celebrants were involved in a serious accident.
3. Hold off criticizing me all the time. I am trying my best.

Hold on and hold off are two types of requests that can be spoken or asked of a person in the English language. Hold on is normally spoken to one person during a phone conversation. It means you wish to still communicate with the person, but you need them to pause and stay on the line.

For example, if I am on the phone with my husband, but I have another call coming through, I can ask him to hold on. Hold off refers to staying away from something. For example, I hold my child off from cookies after 4pm, because I do not want her to ruin her dinner.

The term "hold on" is to maintain a hold of something, and it is a phrase that is used quite often in telephone conversations to keep the lines of communication going but still allowing for a pause. The pause could mean "hold on the line." It could be an instruction, such as "Please hold on while I transfer you to Mrs.

Murphy." The term "hold off" means to stay at a distance or to stand back away from someone or something. It could be used to say, "the dogs were held off by a tight leash." This term means to postpone. It could also mean to stop and cancel the task and do not go any further. Hold on is to wait, while hold off is to postpone.