holding pattern

Noun holding pattern has 2 senses

• holding pattern(n = noun.state) - a state of inaction with no progress and no change; "you should go into a holding pattern until he gets over his disappointment"
is a kind of inaction, inactiveness, inactivity

• holding pattern(n = noun.location) - the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land;
is a kind of air lane, airway, flight path, skyway