Hold sb off Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Hold sb off” Mean?

“Hold sb off” means to keep someone away or delay them from coming closer or doing something. It often implies resisting or preventing someone temporarily.

Introduction

The phrase “hold sb off” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe an action where someone prevents or delays another person from approaching or achieving something. Understanding the “hold sb off meaning” helps learners use it correctly in various situations, such as in conflicts, negotiations, or even casual conversations. It suggests a temporary barrier or resistance rather than a permanent stop. This phrase is useful in both spoken and written English, making it important for English learners to grasp its meaning and usage clearly.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: hold somebody off
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To keep someone away or delay them from doing something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Hold sb off” is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place the object between “hold” and “off” or after the phrase.

• Hold someone off
• Hold off someone

Examples:

• They held the attackers off for hours.
• The guards held off the crowd until help arrived.

How to Use “Hold sb off”?

You use “hold sb off” when you want to describe keeping someone at a distance or resisting their attempts to get closer or succeed. It can be physical, like holding off an attacker, or figurative, like holding off a competitor in business. The phrase often implies a temporary action, meaning the resistance might not last forever.

Examples

Imagine a group of people trying to enter a building during a protest.

• The security team held the protesters off at the gate.
• She held off the sales competition by offering better deals.
• During the game, the defenders held the opposing team off successfully.
• We had to hold off the repairs until we got the right parts.
• They held off the floodwaters by building sandbag barriers.

Here, “hold sb off in a sentence” shows how you can use the phrase in everyday contexts.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “hold sb off” with similar phrases or use incorrect word order.

• Incorrect: Hold off the attackers.
• Correct: Hold the attackers off.
• Incorrect: She held off the competitor.
• Correct: She held the competitor off.

Remember, “hold sb off” is usually separable, so placing the object between “hold” and “off” is most natural.

Differences / Synonyms

There are several phrasal verbs similar to “hold sb off,” but they have subtle differences.

• Hold off: Means to delay or postpone something, without necessarily involving a person. (e.g., “Hold off the meeting until tomorrow.”)
• Keep sb away: Means to prevent someone from coming near, often permanently or for a longer time.
• Hold back: Means to restrain or prevent movement or progress, often emotionally or physically.

“Hold sb off” specifically focuses on resisting or delaying someone temporarily.

Common Collocations

Here are some common words used with “hold sb off” and their meanings:

• Attackers – people who are attacking
• Opponents – competitors or enemies
• Protesters – people protesting against something
• Floodwaters – water from flooding
• Competition – rival companies or people

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of hold sb off:

• Hold Sth Out
• Hold Out For Sth
• Hold Sb Up
• Hold Onto Sth
• Hold Sb Up As Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “hold sb off”:

Tom: The crowd is getting closer. What do we do?

Sarah: We need to hold them off until the police arrive.

Tom: Okay, I’ll block the entrance. Can you help?

Sarah: Yes, let’s hold them off together.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “hold sb off”:

• The guards _______ the rioters _______ until backup came.
• We had to _______ the repairs _______ because of the bad weather.
• She managed to _______ her competitors _______ with a new strategy.

FAQs

• Q: Is “hold sb off” formal or informal?

  A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

• Q: Can “hold sb off” be used in the past tense?

  A: Yes, for example, “They held the attackers off.”

• Q: Is “hold off” the same as “hold sb off”?

  A: No, “hold off” usually means to delay something, while “hold sb off” means to keep someone away.
• Q: Can “hold sb off” be used figuratively?

  A: Yes, it can mean resisting competition or delaying actions in non-physical situations.

• Q: Is “hold sb off” separable?

  A: Yes, the object can come between “hold” and “off” or after the phrase.