postpone a discussion

Meaning

This phrase means to delay a conversation, debate, or meeting to a later time or date. It is a polite and professional way to put off talking about a topic when people are unprepared, short on time, or waiting for more information.

Examples

• Since we don't have the final figures yet, let's postpone this discussion until Friday.

  Since we don't have the final figures yet, let's postpone this discussion until Friday.

• We had to postpone our discussion about the budget because the manager was called away.

  We had to postpone our discussion about the budget because the manager was called away.

• Would it be possible to postpone the discussion to next week's meeting?

  Would it be possible to postpone the discussion to next week's meeting?

• I suggest we postpone further discussion until we receive feedback from the client.

  I suggest we postpone further discussion until we receive feedback from the client.

• They decided to postpone the discussion on salary reviews until the next quarter.

  They decided to postpone the discussion on salary reviews until the next quarter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We should postpone the discussion for next Monday.

  ✓ We should postpone the discussion until next Monday.

  Use 'until' or 'to' to indicate the new time or date to which the discussion has been moved.

• ✗ Let's delay the discuss until tomorrow.

  ✓ Let's postpone the discussion until tomorrow.

  Use the noun form 'discussion' after 'postpone' (or the verb form 'postpone discussing'), and 'postpone' is generally more professional than 'delay' for meetings.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We lack key details, so we need to ___ until we get more data.

  💡 To delay talking about a topic until a later time.

  Show answer

  postpone the discussion

• Can we ___ until the new director arrives?

  💡 To move a conversation to a future date.

  Show answer

  postpone the discussion