HOLD THE LINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hold the line mean? 

• HOLD THE LINE (verb)
  The verb HOLD THE LINE has 2 senses:

1. hold the line on prices; keep the price of something constant

2. hold the phone line open

  Familiarity information: HOLD THE LINE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOLD THE LINE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hold the line on prices; keep the price of something constant

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "hold the line" is one way to...):

conserve; keep up; maintain; preserve (keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s on something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hold the phone line open

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

hang on; hold on; hold the line

Context example:

Please hang on while I get your folder

Hypernyms (to "hold the line" is one way to...):

await; expect; look; wait (look forward to the probable occurrence of)

"Hold the line" entails doing...:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

Domain category:

telephone; telephony (transmitting speech at a distance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s