Lexic.us

Definition of Hold back

1. Verb. Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of. "Turn back the tide of communism"

2. Verb. Keep under control; keep in check. "Keep your cool"

3. Verb. Refrain from doing. "She forbore a snicker"

4. Verb. Wait before acting. "They hold back to move "; "The scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment"

5. Verb. Secure and keep for possible future use or application. "They hold back the money "; "I reserve the right to disagree"

6. Verb. Hold back; keep from being perceived by others. "She conceals her anger well"

Definition of Hold back

1. Verb. (idiomatic) to act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power ¹

2. Verb. (idiomatic) to contain; stop ¹

3. Verb. (idiomatic) to delay, especially in school ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hold Back

hold hold'em hold-all hold-down hold-up hold-up play hold-ups hold a candle hold a grudge hold a torch for

hold against hold all of the aces hold all of the cards hold all the aces hold all the cards hold back (current term) hold baggage hold close hold dear hold down

hold fast hold fire hold firm hold forth hold hands hold hard hold hostage hold in hold it hold luggage

Literary usage of Hold back

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1905)
"Please hold back payment of cargo till they give you order to pay my claim. These people wrote me that they had notified you but for fear they have not will ..."

2. Report of the Proceedings by Church congress (1862)
"... and thence to his Maker's presence,—if we were to hold back, we could only see a soul perishing or perished, which with a more self-renouncing charity ..."

3. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle of St. James by James Hardy Ropes (1916)
"But this is less forcible, since the writer who wrote the preceding and following denunciation would not be likely to hold back from the out- and-out threat ..."

4. Report of the Joint Select Committee Appointed to Inquire Into the Condition by Luke Potter Poland, John Scott (1872)
"... do nothing and have nothing, and depend on the white men to furnish you meat and bread, pay the taxes to educate your children, while you hold back, ..."

5. A French-English Dictionary for Chemists by Austin McDowell Patterson (1921)
"... vt retain; hold; keep; hold back restrain; hold up, sustain; get back, get again. ... cling; hold back, stop, refrain; be retained, etc. retenter, ..."

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