Hold A Gun / Hose On

I have a question about the phrase "hold something on somebody":

"hold a gun on the hostage"
"hold a hose on the fire"

Does it mean the gun is fired and the hose sprays water. Or the gun is pointed at the hostage but not fired, and the hose is pointed at the fire and water is not sprayed?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stemm

I have a question about the phrase "hold something on somebody":

"hold a gun on the hostage"
"hold a hose on the fire"

Does it mean the gun is fired and the hose sprays water. Or the gun is pointed at the hostage but not fired, and the hose is pointed at the fire and water is not sprayed?

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***NOT A TEACHER***

"b. To aim or direct; point: held a hose on the fire."

More: hold on - definition of hold on by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

The hose is squirting water. The gun is not fired.