Hold off on purchases

Question

Chip makers are starting to feel the fallout from the global economic slowdown, as businesses cut costs and trim technology spending, and consumers hold off on purchases.

Can I leave 'on' out of the sentence?

If so, what's the difference?

Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Nope.  Fixed expression.  With the "on," it's intransitive.  Without it, it's transitive.  "Do you think we can hold off the attack?"  (can we repel the attack)   "Do you think we can hold off on the attack?"  (can we delay attacking)

Liveinjapan · Answer

Thanks, Avangi.
Do they (hold off and hold off on) depend on the object?

'Purchase' and 'attack' are bit different in type.

site:co.uk "hold off purchases -->437 hits

site:co.uk "hold off on purchases --> 426 hits

It seems that they are used for similar meanings.

Avangi · Answer

Wow! that sounds strange to me. I still get the sense of transitive = repel, and intransitive = abstain.

That is, "hold off purchases" would mean to take an active role in blocking purchases. "Purchases" is the direct object of the verb.

"Hold off on purchases" would mean just don't initiate any purchases. On the other hand, if a P.O. has already been received by the supplier, and a financial emergency comes up suddenly, I guess you might well say, "Call the supplier and see if we can hold off on that purchase."

I think we need more opinions on this. But to answer your question, I would have said that the object itself made no difference. I think the verbals would work the same way: "hold off [on] purchasing"

- A.

Liveinjapan · Answer

Avangi "hold off purchases" would mean to take an active role in blocking purchases.

Many thanks, Avangi.

Hold off on purchases

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