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What does "hold" mean?

In addition to the idioms beginning with hold, also see (hold) at bay; bear (hold) a grudge; get hold of; hang (hold) on to your hat; have a hold over; lay hold of; leave holding the bag; no holds barred; on hold; (hold the) purse strings; stand (hold) one's ground; take hold.

See hold in WNW Idioms

catch hold of

to take; seize; grasp

get hold of

to take; seize; grasp
to acquire

hold back

to restrain
to refrain
to retain

hold down

to keep down or under control; restrain
â Informal to have and keep (a job)
to limit; restrict the rain held down attendance at the game

hold forth

Etymology: cf. Phil. 2:16

to speak at some length; preach; lecture
Now Rare to offer; propose

hold in

to keep in or back
to control oneself or one's impulses

hold off

to keep away or at a distance
to keep from attacking or doing something
to delay action on a matter, as in awaiting additional information

hold on

to retain one's hold
to continue; persist
Informal stop!wait!

hold one's own

to maintain one's place or condition in spite of obstacles or reverses

hold out

to last; endure; continue
to continue resistance; stand firm; not yield
to offer
â Informal to fail or refuse to give (what is to be given)

hold out for

Informal to stand firm in demanding

hold over

to postpone consideration of or action on
to keep or stay for an additional period or term
â to keep as a threat or advantage over

hold up

to keep from falling; prop up
to show; exhibit
to last; endure; continue
to stop; delay; impede
â to stop forcibly and rob
â Informal to overcharge

hold with

to agree or side with
to approve of

lay hold of

or take hold of

to take; seize; grasp
to get control or possession of

no holds barred

Informal with no set rules or limits

on hold

in a period or state of interruption or delay the countdown was on hold
in a state of interruption in a telephone call, as during a transfer to another line I was on hold for five minutes

See hold in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

get hold of

To come into possession of; find: Where can I get hold of a copy?
To communicate with, as by telephone: tried to get hold of you but the line was busy.
To gain control of. Often used reflexively: You must get hold of yourself!

hold a candle to

To compare favorably with: This film doesn't hold a candle to his previous ones.

hold (one's) end up

To fulfill one's part of an agreement; do one's share.

hold (one's) own

To do reasonably well despite difficulty or criticism.

hold out on (someone)

To withhold something from: Don't hold out on me; start telling the truth.

hold (someone's) feet to the fire

To pressure (someone) to consent to or undertake something.

hold sway

To have a controlling influence; dominate.

hold the bag

Informal

To be left with empty hands.
To be forced to assume total responsibility when it ought to have been shared.

hold the fort

Informal

To assume responsibility, especially in another's absence.
To maintain a secure position.

hold the line

To maintain the existing position or state of affairs: had to hold the line on salary increases.

hold the phone

Slang

To stop doing what one is engaged in doing. Often used in the imperative: Hold the phone! Let's end this argument.

hold water

To stand up to critical examination: Your explanation doesn't hold water.

no holds barred

Without limits or restraints.

on hold

Into a state of temporary interruption without severing a telephone connection: put me on hold for 10 minutes.

Informal

Into a state of delay or indeterminate suspension: had to put the romance on hold.

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What does "hold" mean?

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