Phrasal Verbs With 'Hold'

Hold against phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Have a grudge against someone, or little respect
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: He was very rude, but I won't HOLD it AGAINST him.

Hold back phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Not show emotion
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: It was really hard to HOLD BACK the tears.
  2. Meaning: Prevent something moving forwards or progressing
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Lack of funding HELD the project BACK.
  3. Meaning: Not disclose information or make it public
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The government HELD BACK the findings of the report for fear of alienating voters.

Hold back from phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Not allow yourself to do something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I had to HOLD BACK FROM losing my temper with them.

Hold down phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Keep a job
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: He's so unreliable that he can never HOLD DOWN a job for more than a couple of months.
  2. Meaning: Stop someone or something from moving
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: It took four of us to HOLD him DOWN and stop the fight.

Hold forth phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: State your opinions about something, especially when talking for a long time and boringly
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The manager HELD FORTH on the topic for about twenty minutes.

Hold off phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: When bad weather doesn't appear
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The rain HELD OFF until we'd got back home.
  2. Meaning: Stop someone from attacking or beating you
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Chelsea couldn't HOLD their opponents OFF and lost the game.
  3. Meaning: Delay, postpone
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: They want an answer this week, but she may HOLD OFF for a bit longer

Hold off on phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Delay
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The government has been HOLDING OFF ON electoral reform for ages.

Hold on phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Wait
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: Could you HOLD ON for a minute; she'll be free in a moment.
  2. Meaning: To hold tightly
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We HELD ON as the bus started to move.

Hold on to phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Hold tightly
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I HELD ON TO my luggage while I was waiting fr the taxi so that it didn't get stolen.

Hold onto phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Keep as long as possible
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: It tried to HOLD ONTO my cash during the holiday so I could buy some duty free stuff on the way back.
  2. Meaning: Hold tightly
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The mother HELD ONTO her daughter's hand to keep together in the crowd.

Hold out phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Resist
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: When the enemy attacked, they HELD OUT for six weeks.
  2. Meaning: Hold in front of you
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: I HELD OUT my hand when she walked in.

Hold out against phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Try to reject
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The staff are HOLDING OUT AGAINST the plans to reduce the workforce.

Hold out for phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Wait for something better or refuse something now for something better in the future
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: We are HOLDING OUT FOR a much better deal than the one offered.

Hold out on phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Not pay someone or give them information
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's been HOLDING OUT ON me for weeks and I really need the money.

Hold over phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Delay
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The meeting has been HELD OVER till Friday.
  2. Meaning: To continue something for longer than planned
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: It has been so successful that they have HELD it OVER for another fortnight.

Hold to phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Oblige or force someone to carry out an obligation
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: They're HOLDING us TO all the terms of the contract.

Hold together phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Not break up
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The society managed to HOLD TOGETHER despite the crisis.

Hold up phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Delay when travelling
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: I was HELD UP by the terrible traffic and arrived half an hour late for my appointment.
  2. Meaning: Rob with violence or threats thereof
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Two armed men HELD UP the bank in High Street this morning and got away with £75,000.

Hold with phrasal verb

  1. Meaning: Accept (usually negative)
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I don't HOLD WITH their plans.

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