4 PHRASAL VERB If you hold something back , you do not include it in the information you are giving about something. □ [V n P ] You seem to be holding something back. [Also V P n (not pron)]
5 PHRASAL VERB If you hold back something such as tears or laughter, or if you hold back , you make an effort to stop yourself from showing how you feel. □ [V P n] She kept trying to hold back her tears. □ [V P ] I was close to tears with frustration, but I held back. [Also V n P ]
▸ hold down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hold down a job or a place in a team, you manage to keep it. □ [V P n] He never could hold down a job. □ [V P n] Constant injury problems had made it tough for him to hold down a regular first team place. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you hold someone down , you keep them under control and do not allow them to have much freedom or power or many rights. □ [V P n] Everyone thinks there is some vast conspiracy wanting to hold down the younger generation. [Also V n P ]
▸ hold in PHRASAL VERB If you hold in an emotion or feeling, you do not allow yourself to express it, often making it more difficult to deal with. □ [V P n] Depression can be traced to holding in anger. □ [V n P ] Go ahead and cry. Don't hold it in.
▸ hold off
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hold off doing something, you delay doing it or delay making a decision about it. □ [V P v-ing] The hospital staff held off taking Rosenbaum in for an X-ray. □ [V P ] They have threatened military action but held off until now.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you hold off a challenge in a race or competition, you do not allow someone to pass you. □ [V P n] He cut through the middle, held off a challenge and scored. [Also V n P ]
▸ hold on or hold onto
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hold on , or hold onto something, you keep your hand on it or around it, for example to prevent the thing from falling or to support yourself. □ [V P + to ] His right arm was extended up beside his head, still holding on to a coffee cup. □ [V P n] He was struggling to hold onto a rock on the face of the cliff. □ [V P ] Despite her aching shoulders, Nancy held on.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you hold on , you manage to achieve success or avoid failure in spite of great difficulties or opposition. □ [V P ] This Government deserved to lose power a year ago. It held on.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you ask someone to hold on , you are asking them to wait for a short time. [SPOKEN ] □ [V P ] The manager asked him to hold on while he investigated.
▸ hold on to or hold onto
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hold on to something that gives you an advantage, you succeed in keeping it for yourself, and prevent it from being taken away or given to someone else. □ [V P P n] Firms are now keen to hold on to the people they recruit. □ [V P n] …a politician who knew how to hold onto power.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you hold on to something, you keep it for a longer time than would normally be expected. □ [V P P n] Do you think you could hold on to that report for the next day or two? □ [V P n] People hold onto letters for years and years.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you hold on to your beliefs, ideas, or principles, you continue to believe in them and do not change or abandon them if others try to influence you or if circumstances cause you to doubt them. □ [V P P n] He was imprisoned for 19 years yet held on to his belief in his people.
▸ hold out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hold out your hand or something you have in your hand, you move your hand away from your body, for example to shake hands with someone. □ [V P n] 'I'm Nancy Drew,' she said, holding out her hand. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you hold out for something, you refuse to accept something which you do not think is good enough or large enough, and you continue to demand more. □ [V P + for ] I should have held out for a better deal. □ [V P ] He can only hold out a few more weeks.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is holding out on you, you think that they are refusing to give you information that you want. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P + on ] He had always believed that kids could sense it when you held out on them. [Also V P ]
4 PHRASAL VERB If you hold out , you manage to resist an enemy or opponent in difficult circumstances and refuse to give in. □ [V P ] One prisoner was still holding out on the roof of the jail.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you hold out hope of something happening, you hope that in the future something will happen as you want it to. □ [V P n] He still holds out hope that they could be a family again.
▸ hold over
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hold something over someone, you use it in order to threaten them or make them do what you want. □ [V n P n] Did Laurie know something, and hold it over Felicity?
2 PHRASAL VERB If something is held over , it does not happen or it is not dealt with until a future date. □ [be V -ed P ] Further voting might be held over until tomorrow. □ [V n P ] We would have held the story over until the next day. [Also V P n]
▸ hold together PHRASAL VERB If you hold a group of people together , you help them to live or work together without arguing, although they may have different aims, attitudes, or interests. □ [V n P ] Her 13-year-old daughter is holding the family together. □ [V P n] …the political balance which holds together the government. □ [V P ] The coalition will never hold together for six months.
▸ hold up