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Noun: holding pattern
  1. A state of inaction with no progress and no change
    "you should go into a holding pattern until he gets over his disappointment"
     
  2. The flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land

Derived forms: holding patterns

Type of: air lane, airway, flight path, inaction, inactiveness, inactivity, skyway

Encyclopedia: Holding pattern

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hold your horses
holdall
hold-down
holder
holdfast
holding
holding cell
holding company
holding device
holding paddock
holding pattern
holding pen
holding yard
holdout
holdover
holdup
holdup man
hole
hole card
hole in one
hole out