A holding operation is a temporary measure to delay a further decision or action. There are several synonyms for holding operation, including delay tactic, standstill, holding pattern, pause, and wait-and-see approach. A delay tactic is a strategy to postpone a decision or action. A standstill refers to a situation where progress or movement has come to a halt, and no further action is taken. A holding pattern is a state of suspension where no forward progress is made but no retreat is taken either. Pause means to temporarily stop or hold on to something. A wait-and-see approach is a method of delaying action until more information is available.