English · Greetings & Phrases
hold on
/həʊld ɒn/
[/həʊld ɒn/]
wait; grip
Intermediateverb
Definition
To wait for a short time, or to keep a firm grip on something.
Example
Hold on a second while I find my keys; I'm sure they're somewhere in this bag.
Hold on a second while I find my keys; I'm sure they're somewhere in this bag.
Etymology
From 'hold' plus 'on', the 'wait' sense from telephone usage in the 20th century.
How & Where It’s Used
Informal and very common, especially on the phone and in casual conversation.