held on to the situation vs held off the situation

Some examples from the web:

• On Wednesday afternoon, a debate will be held on the situation in Kosovo, following the statements by the Council and the Commission on this issue.
• It gives an accurate reflection of the feelings of many Socialist MEPs and of those from other benches who came here to give their evidence in the debate that we held on the situation in East Timor in the September part-session.
• Unless I was held up in the Situation Room or something.
• These are the crucial elements revealed by Shoe Report 2013 held annually on the situation in the Italian footwear sector and its contribution in strengthening Made in Italy, presented by Assocalzaturifici in Rome.
• Thorough and comprehensive talks were held about the situation in Serbia, what the country is facing, what reforms need to be implemented, and how to facilitate fiscal consolidation of the country and create a healthy economy.
• Obviously, we welcome the fact that they took place - and, moreover, had they not been held the situation might have been worse - but it is quite clear that there are parts of the country in which it is hard to talk of democracy.
• Considers that aid paid per head of livestock should not be penalised or curtailed, so as to enable greater numbers of animals to be held should the situation continue;
• Consequently, the truth must be brought out and those responsible for this unacceptable situation held to account, including the role of the European Central Bank.
• There must be some doubt as to whether the referendum can still be held in such a situation.
• Does the Presidency believe that a European Council needs to be held to examine the situation and re-establish a joint framework, shared by all of the Member States, in favour of peace and international legality?
• Of course, it is primarily the French Government that is to be held responsible for this situation, having cheerfully transferred food safety to Community jurisdiction by signing the Treaty of Amsterdam.
• In the debate held on Wednesday 5 July, rapporteur Richard CORBETT (PES, UK) said: "with this agreement, there is a transformation of the situation".
• The Member States were immediately informed of the situation during the meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health held on 11 September and 23 October 2006.
• Different situations that held encouraging messages for everyone: this was the unanimous comment of the participants who saw the "panorama" as one of the most important moments on the course.
• I do not think that the fact that we find ourselves today in a still highly unsatisfactory situation has held up development, since the number of demands easily outstrips the possibilities for receiving young people at present.
• The Statement was added as an item on the agenda for Wednesday, following the debate on the situation in Nigeria, and the vote would be held on Thursday, 15 March 2012.
• In this framework, an informal meeting held on 6 May of the PSC and NATO ambassadors, chaired by the High Representative and the NATO Secretary General, discussed the situation in Libya.
• At the hearing held on 13 January 2016, those parties reiterated that post investigation period information was relevant for the correct assessment of the situation of the Union industry, in particular of its profitability.
• The free parliamentary elections held on 3 September 2000 indicate that things are moving in the right direction, towards the normalisation of the situation in Lebanon, and we must not therefore underestimate the destabilising effect on Lebanon of the conflict in the Middle East.
• The Custos illustrated the situation of the Custody in the Holy Land and a discussion was held on a possible cooperation between the Polish Provinces and the Franciscan Mission in the Holy Land.

Some examples from the web:

• When watchdogs targeted the Edison bridge, agent Johnson held off the collapse until everyone was evacuated.
• Nor was her sacrifice in vain, for she held off the enemy until the father arrived with reinforcements and put the invaders to rout.
• I sealed off the area and held off the trains till they could be examined.
• My daddy was one of the men behind the rifles that held off the Sioux in the battle for New Ulm.
• And, Lord Macintosh, you saved my dad when you charged in on heavy horse and held off the advance.
• "So one soldier climbed"while the other four held off the natives.
• The fort of San Cristobal... held off the Dutch, the English, the Americans.
• We intend to cordon off the area and make sure the situation is contained.
• Right now, I'm just feeding off the situation.
• I will now take your mind off the situation.
• Measures specific to the situation off the coast of Somalia
• I will now take your mind off the situation.
• Just sort of walked off the moment he got a bit scared by the situation.
• Think of it as busywork to keep your mind off the situation.
• In the first three quarters of 2009 the situation especially off the Somali coast (Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden) has deteriorated.
• I caused the situation by not topping off the tank, and that vinyl accordion partition is a totem of distrust.
• The situation of cod in the North Sea and off Scotland is different, just as the situation of northern hake off south-western Ireland differs from that off the French coast.
• On 31 May 2010, the Vice-President of the Commission provided an answer to a series of questions I had asked about the situation with regard to European ships off the Horn of Africa.
• European Parliament resolution on the situation of 433 Afghan refugees off the coast of Australia
• I could've held off an army in the mountains.