verb
Etymology: Middle English holden of, from holden to hold + of off
transitive verb
1.
a. : to keep at a distance
a tendency to hold people off
b. : withstand
held all enemy attacks off
2. : postpone , delay
held off going to see a doctor
tries to hold off making decisions
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to keep aloof
a tendency to hold off from people
b. : abstain
held off from smoking for a month
2. : to hold back : hesitate
held off from answering directly