hold

hold (someone or an animal) down

1. Lit. to keep someone, something, or an animal down. The heavy beam held him down, and he could not rise. The owner held down his pet while the vet treated the injured paw.

2. Fig. to prevent someone or something from advancing. I had a disability that held me down in life. Too much debt held down the company while others profited.

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See:

a grip on a grip on oneself a hold on a strong bear a grudge can't hold a candle to can't hold drink catch hold of control the purse strings Could you hold? Don't hold your breath get hold of hang fire hang on hang on for dear life hang on like grim death Hang on to your hat! have all the aces have all the cards have the whip hand hold hold a gun to head hold a meeting hold accountable hold against hold all the aces hold all the cards hold at hold at arm's length hold at bay hold attention hold back hold breath hold by hold court hold down hold end of the bargain up hold end up Hold everything! hold feet to the fire hold fire hold for hold for ransom hold forth hold good

hold good for hold ground hold hand hold head high hold head up hold head up high hold horses Hold horses! hold hostage hold in hold in abeyance hold in check hold in high regard hold in low regard hold in reserve and keep in reserve hold it Hold it! hold liquor hold mouth the right way hold no brief for hold nose hold of hold off hold off doing hold on hold on for dear life Hold on! hold oneself together hold onto hold out hold out an olive branch hold out on hold out the olive branch hold over hold own hold peace hold promise hold still hold still for hold sway hold terror for hold the fort hold the key hold the line

Hold the phone hold the purse strings hold tight hold to hold to ransom hold together hold tongue hold true hold up hold up as an example hold up to hold up to ridicule hold up to scorn hold water hold with Hold your horses! Hold your tongue! in store keep at arm's length keep at bay keep back keep in check keep still keep temper lay hold of lose hold on no holds barred not hold a stick to not hold breath not hold liquor not hold water not hold with on hold put a hold on put on hold relax hold on save for a rainy day stand ground stand in good stead take hold take hold of under thumb under wraps won't hold water