What phrase should be issued when a pilot requests hold short instructions?

When a pilot requests hold short instructions, the appropriate response is to ask the pilot to read back the hold instructions. This is vital for ensuring that the pilot clearly understands the specific hold short instruction given by air traffic control. The confirmation helps to avoid miscommunications that could lead to safety incidents on the runway or taxiway.

While other options might seem relevant in different contexts, they do not specifically address the need for clarity and double-checking that the pilot acknowledges the hold short command. For instance, issuing taxi clearance or instructing a pilot to hold short could occur in other scenarios but is not the immediate response required when a pilot requests clarification on hold short procedures. Similarly, clearing a pilot for takeoff is unrelated to a hold short request, as it implies that the aircraft is ready to enter the runway for departure, which contradicts the purpose of holding short.