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[1357] Hold on

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Wait for a short time.
  • Used on the phone to ask someone to wait while you connect them or find information.
  • Can also mean to grip something tightly or to persevere through difficulty (e.g., Hold on, things will get better.). This entry focuses on the wait meaning.

Origin

  • Literal meaning: To hold onto something firmly.
  • Phone usage: Derived from physically holding the telephone line open while attending to something else.
  • General wait usage: Metaphorically asking someone to 'hold' their current state or action (i.e., wait).

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Wait
  • Hang on (informal)
  • Just a moment / Just a second / Just a minute
  • Bear with me
  • One moment, please (more formal)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Hang on / Hang tight
  • Gimme a sec / Just a sec
  • Hold your horses (Telling someone to slow down or be patient, often humorous)

Vulgar/Emphatic (Usually expresses surprise, disbelief, or annoyance rather than a simple request to wait):

  • Hold the fuck on
  • Wait a goddamn minute

Milder/Formal:

  • One moment, please.
  • Please wait.
  • Could you wait briefly?

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to neutral (Hold on, Hang on).
  • One moment, please is more formal, suitable for customer service or professional settings.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Generally clear in the wait context. Learners should be aware of the other meanings (grip tightly, persevere). Context usually clarifies.

Examples

  • Hold on, I'm coming!
  • Could you hold on for a moment while I check that for you? (Phone context)
  • Hold on, I think I forgot my keys.

Dialogue

Context

Receptionist: Thank you for calling Tech Support, how can I help you?

Customer: Yes, my internet isn't working.

Receptionist: Okay, can you hold on for one moment while I pull up your account?

Customer: Sure.

(Pause)

Receptionist: Alright, thanks for holding. I see your account here...

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet: Hold on... did that actor *really* just announce a surprise comeback tour?! 😱 #OMG #MusicNews
  • Chat Message: Need to find that link. Hold on...
  • Comment Reply: Hold on, I think you misunderstood the original post.

Response Patterns

  • Okay.
  • Sure.
  • No problem.
  • (Waits)
  • On the phone: Okay, I'll hold.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • The person who said Hold on usually quickly provides the reason or completes the action they needed time for.
  • Okay, thanks for waiting. What I need is...
  • Sorry about that, I found my keys.
  • If the wait is longer than expected: Sorry to keep you waiting...
  • The person waiting might say Take your time or, if impatient, How much longer?

Conversation Starter

  • No. It's an interruption or a request within an ongoing interaction.

Intonation

  • Often said quickly with stress on HOLD. HOLD on.
  • Can have a rising intonation if asking politely on the phone: Hold ON?
  • Can be more forceful if expressing surprise or disagreement: HOLD on a minute, what did you just say?

Generation Differences

  • Universal.

Regional Variations

  • Universal in English-speaking regions. Hang on might be slightly more common in BrE/AusE but is widely understood everywhere.
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