hold one's fire

Phrase

 * 1) Do not discharge a weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder; now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.
 * 2)  Wait, don't retaliate, calm down, be quiet.
 * Hold your fire and let me explain.

Verb

 * 1) To refrain from criticism.