Definition of holding pattern

holding pattern    

noun

• a period of waiting, during which little can be accomplished, until a particular external event occurs.

  My life is basically in a holding pattern until I hear back from the grad schools I applied to.

  • See more words with the same meaning: a period of time.
  • See more words with the same meaning: to wait.

  Last edited on Mar 26 2013. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Mar 26 2013.

+	Add a definition for this slang term

Share Tweet E-mail	More info:	Interactive stats:
	R  Related words	Usage Vulgarity SlangMap

Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'a period of time':
buck	Definitions include: unattractive.
for days	Definitions include: for a long time.
sec	Definitions include: "second."
sesh	Definitions include: abbreviated form of "session".
jiffy	Definitions include: a short amount of time.
face time	Definitions include: the potential of facilitating one's meeting of other people.
days	Definitions include: a long time.
piece	Definitions include: a graffiti mural.
minute	Definitions include: a long period of time.
grip	Definitions include: a long time.
24	Definitions include: 24 hours, i.e. one day.
mo	Definitions include: "moment".
New York minute	Definitions include: a brief amount of time.
tick	Definitions include: a short amount of time.
trip	Definitions include: to take LSD.
(show 6 more)
Other terms relating to 'to wait':
posted up	Definitions include: to be standing or sitting somewhere.
hold up	Definitions include: to wait.
cool (one's) jets	Definitions include: to calm down or wait.
sit tight	Definitions include: to stay in one place and wait patiently.
hold (one's) horses	Definitions include: to wait patiently.
hold the phone	Definitions include: "wait a minute"; "hold on"; etc.
hold on	Definitions include: to wait.
marinate	Definitions include: to sit around waiting for something to happen.
cool (one's) heels	Definitions include: to wait.

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'hold':
hold	Definitions include: to have drugs.
hold a candle to	Definitions include: to be superior to, in some way.
hold down	Definitions include: be there for you.
holding up	Definitions include: to be doing.
hold on	Definitions include: to wait.
hold (one's) breath	Definitions include: to wait.
hold (one's) horses	Definitions include: to wait patiently.
hold (one's) liquor	Definitions include: to have a respectable alcohol tolerance.
hold the fort	Definitions include: to maintain the proper operation of something, such as a business.
hold the phone	Definitions include: "wait a minute"; "hold on"; etc.
hold truck with	Definitions include: to agree with.
hold up	Definitions include: to wait.
hold water	Definitions include: to be inadequate.
leave holding the bag	Definitions include: to abandon a person after a crime has been committed, leaving them with incriminating evidence (literally) or blame (figuratively.)
look like a baby's arm holding an apple	Definitions include: said of a penis, extremely large.
(show 2 morehide)

How common is this slang?

Don't click the following.
I use it	(2)
No longer use it	(0)
Heard it but never used it	(1)
Have never heard it	(0)

How vulgar is this slang?

Average of 3 votes: 33%  (See the most vulgar words.)

Least vulgar

Most vulgar

Your vote: None   (To vote, click the pepper. Vote how vulgar the word is – not how mean it is.)

Least vulgar

Most vulgar

Where is this slang used?

Logged-in users can add themselves to the map. Login, Register, Login instantly with Facebook.

Link to this slang definition

To link to this term in a web page or blog, insert the following.

<a href="http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/holding-pattern">holding pattern</a>

To link to this term in a wiki such as Wikipedia, insert the following.

[http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/holding-pattern holding pattern]

Some wikis use a different format for links, so be sure to check the documentation.