Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The ordinary rule of a cross-examination: stop the witness and make them say it again. Pointing and shouting it turned a dry legal manoeuvre into a stunt, and fans yell it whenever someone slips in a doubtful claim. It sits in the same breath as Objection!, the pointing hand and the courtroom soundtrack, which makes it a ready-made interruption.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Phoenix Wright: Ace AttorneyShow the scene
"Hold it!" is one of the three original speech-bubble shouts of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Capcom, 2001), alongside "Objection!" and "Take that!". During a witness's testimony the defence attorney can press for details and interrupt, and the Ace Attorney Wiki says the shout is mainly used for interrupting courtroom proceedings. The first game came out in Japan on the Game Boy Advance on October 12, 2001, where the shout is "Matta!" (wait); the English version reached the Nintendo DS in October 2005, bringing "Hold it!" to Western players.
Sources (2)
- Ace Attorney Wiki: Hold it!Intro and GalleryReference checked
- Wikipedia: Phoenix Wright: Ace AttorneyReleaseReference checked
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