Put on hold 's definition, meaning and history

Meaning of “put on hold”

The phrase “put on hold” is an idiom that means to delay or postpone something, typically an action or decision. It’s often used in situations where a process or activity is temporarily stopped or paused for a period of time.

For example, you might say “We had to put the project on hold until we secure more funding,” meaning that the project cannot proceed until additional resources are obtained.

Here are some other things to know about “put on hold”:

• It’s commonly used in business contexts to describe the temporary suspension of a project, task, or decision.
• “Put on hold” can also refer to placing a phone call in a waiting state, where the caller is temporarily disconnected or placed in a queue.
• The phrase can be used in both formal and informal settings to describe delays or postponements of various kinds.

History of “put on hold”

The exact origin of the phrase “put on hold” is unclear, but it has been in use for centuries in English. Here’s what we know about its history:

• Early usage: The phrase “put on hold” has been used in English since at least the 17th century, with early examples found in texts from the 1600s.
• Telephone origins: The use of “put on hold” in the context of phone calls likely emerged in the mid-20th century with the introduction of telephone switchboards and automated call systems.
• Business applications: The phrase “put on hold” became popular in business contexts in the 20th century, where it was used to describe the temporary suspension of projects or decisions.
• Informal usage: “Put on hold” is considered an informal idiom in English, often used in casual speech or writing to describe delays or postponements.

Overall, “put on hold” is a common idiom in English that is used to describe the temporary delay or suspension of a process, project, or decision. It’s a versatile phrase that can be used in a variety of contexts to indicate that something has been postponed or paused for a period of time.

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