Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
hold off
English answer:
to delay doing something concerning someone or something
Added to glossary by
Kimberlee Thorne
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2010-10-26 17:54:10 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Oct 23, 2010 12:48
13 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term
France
hold off
English
Tech/Engineering
Computers: Software
Does it mean, to stop, interrupt ?
In order to avoid this problem the housekeeping process will check for available resources before running and, if other operations are in progress, the housekeeping will dynamically hold-off to prevent impacting the performance of other operations
It is, however, important to note that the hold-off is not binary, (i.e. on or off) so, even if backup jobs are in process, some low level of housekeeping will still take place which may have a slight impact on backup performance
In order to avoid this problem the housekeeping process will check for available resources before running and, if other operations are in progress, the housekeeping will dynamically hold-off to prevent impacting the performance of other operations
It is, however, important to note that the hold-off is not binary, (i.e. on or off) so, even if backup jobs are in process, some low level of housekeeping will still take place which may have a slight impact on backup performance
Change log
Oct 26, 2010 22:15: Kimberlee Thorne changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/0">'s</a> old entry - "hold off"" to ""to delay doing something concerning someone or something""
Responses
+5
53 mins
Kimberlee Thorne
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
Small World Language Services
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English to Spanish, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
to delay doing something concerning someone or something
As a native speaker from the US, to me "hold off" means to keep something on hold or delay it until further notice, due to a specific reason. For example, "The project has not been confirmed yet. The client has decided to hold off until they rewrite the proposal".
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-10-23 13:51:31 GMT)
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No, "hold on" means something completely different. To wait for something Try to hold on while I go and get some help.
Usage notes: usually used to tell someone they must wait although it is difficult to do so
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hold on
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-10-23 13:51:31 GMT)
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No, "hold on" means something completely different. To wait for something Try to hold on while I go and get some help.
Usage notes: usually used to tell someone they must wait although it is difficult to do so
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hold on
Reference:
Note from asker:
| Wouldn't it be 'hold on' ? |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Arabic & More
14 mins
|
| agree |
Thayenga
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Tony M
: At best, it might be 'hold off on' (the project) !!!
20 hrs
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| agree |
jccantrell
: postpone might also be used.
2 days 1 hr
|
| agree |
Ildiko Santana
3 days 4 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Kim"
7 mins
pause
to hold off - to stop and wait
In this case, it means to slow down (since it's not binary).
In this case, it means to slow down (since it's not binary).
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Although your explanation is right, I'd avoid the term 'pause', since that rather implies stopping something that is already started — which may not be the case here, and indeed, is rather counter-implied by 'hold off' (= don't start)
3 mins
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In this case "the housekeeping will dynamically hold-off", so 'pause' is a good word for it. It pauses many times. But I agree that the meaning in everyday language is "don't start".
|
1 hr
Stephanie Ezrol
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
French to English, English to English
Native in: English
Works in: English, French to English, French Middle (ca.1400-1600) to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
pull back as in de-prioritize and slow down
"Hold off" is not a usual way of saying this in the IT literature. The phenomenon could be described as a "pull back"in intensity, a process of retreat, in that there is a lessening of the intensity of the operation. I checked with an expert in the field who said he would describe the change in the housekeeping process as dynamically de-prioritizing or dynamically lowering the priorities to lessen the interference with other processes.
Discussion
Since it's not binary, it means that the level of housekeeping will decrease, increase, decrease, increase...
At least, that's one meaning in everyday language, and I think it's the one intended here!
This is what i think is the relevant definition from R+C:
(= delay)
to hold off doing sth: attendre pour faire qch
they held off eating until she had arrived: ils ont attendu qu'elle soit arrivée pour manger