What does “in a holding pattern” mean in English?

When a plane can’t land yet, it flies slow circles above the airport. That’s a holding pattern. In everyday English — especially in news and business — people use this image to describe any situation where everything has stopped to wait. No big changes are happening. People are watching for a signal before they act.

In the clip, a Bay Area business leader says that trade between the US and China is “in a holding pattern with everyone waiting to see what Trump will do.” No new deals. No new rules. Everything is paused. You’ll hear this phrase a lot in news and at work. A colleague might say, “The project is in a holding pattern until the budget is approved.” A reporter might write, “The central bank has been in a holding pattern while inflation data comes in.” It fits any planned pause — not a full stop, but an active, ongoing wait. The phrase is neutral — not too formal, not slang. It works best in news, business, and workplace settings, but it comes up in everyday conversation too.