Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (74 page)

Hold everything
!
Stop everything!; Everyone, stop!
“Hold everything!” cried Mary. “There's a squirrel loose in the kitchen!
”
B
ILL
: Hold everything! Let's try this part again. B
OB
: But we've already rehearsed it four times.

Hold it
!
Stop right there.
T
OM
: Hold it! M
ARY
: What's wrong? T
OM
: You almost stepped on my contact lens.
B
ILL
: Hold it! B
OB
: What is it? B
ILL
: Sorry. For a minute, that stick looked like a snake.

Hold on (a minute)
!
AND
Hold on for a minute
!
Stop right there!; Wait a minute! (
Minute
can be replaced by
moment, second
, or other time periods.)
B
OB
: Hold on, Tom. T
OM
: What? B
OB
: I want to talk to you
.
“Hold on!” hollered Tom. “You're running off with my shopping cart!
”

Hold, please
.
Go to Hold the wire(, please).

Hold the line(, please)
.
Go to Hold the wire(, please).

Hold the wire(, please)
.
AND
Hold, please.; Hold the line(, please).; Please hold
.
Please wait on the telephone and do not hang up. (A phrase in use before telephone “hold” circuitry was in wide use.)
B
ILL
: Hold the wire, please. (turning to Tom) Tom, the phone's for you. T
OM
: Be right there
.
R
ACHEL
: Do you wish to speak to Mr. Jones or Mr. Franklin? H
ENRY
: Jones. R
ACHEL
: Thank you. Hold the line, please
.
S
UE
: Good afternoon, Acme Motors, hold please. (click) B
ILL
(hanging up): That makes me so mad!

Hold your horses
!
Slow down! Don't be so eager!
M
ARY
: Come on, Sally, let's get going! S
ALLY
: Oh, hold your horses! Don't be in such a rush!
“Hold your horses!” said Fred to the herd of small boys trying to get into the station wagon.

Hold your tongue
!
You have said enough!; You have said enough rude things.
B
ILL
: You're seeing Tom a lot, aren't you? You must be in love. J
ANE
: Hold your tongue, Bill Franklin!
After listening to the tirade against him for nearly four minutes, Tom cried, “Hold your tongue!
”