hold on

hold on idiom
  1. Also, hold on to. Maintain one's grip, cling, as in Hold on to your hat in this wind, or The early Christians held on to their beliefs despite strong opposition. [Early 1500s]
  2. Continue to do something, persist, as in Please hold on for a while longer. [Late 1800s]
  3. Stop, wait, as in Hold on! We can't go past this gate. [Mid-1800s]
  4. Remain on a telephone line, as in If you can hold on a minute I'll go and find her. [Late 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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