Put a package on hold:
echo "<package-name> hold" | sudo dpkg --set-selections
Remove the hold:
echo "<package-name> install" | sudo dpkg --set-selections
Display the status of your packages:
dpkg --get-selections
Display the status of a single package:
dpkg --get-selections | grep "<package-name>"
Hold a package:
sudo apt-mark hold <package-name>
Remove the hold:
sudo apt-mark unhold <package-name>
Hold a package:
sudo aptitude hold <package-name>
Remove the hold:
sudo aptitude unhold <package-name>