Let's try to hold off the lawyers until we are ready for them.
If you hold off doing something, you delay doing it or delay making a decision about it. The hospital staff held off taking Rosenbaum in for an X-ray They have threatened military action but held off until now
If you hold off a challenge in a race or competition, you do not allow someone to pass you. Between 1987 and 1990, Steffi Graf largely held off Navratilova's challenge for the crown
[ t&, tu, 'tü ] (preposition.) before 12th century. Middle English, from Old English tO; akin to Old High German zuo to, Latin donec as long as, until.