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hold

hold

294 1.0
A firm grip on something
  • noun
  • /hoʊld/
translation icon : agarre
  • Deliberately, he took hold of her hand and drew her to a place beside him.
  • grab hold
  • lose hold

Just static grabbed hold of the plastic.

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Examples

  • You're not losing your hold on him, are you, Rebecca?

  • She shouted in surprise and grabbed a hold of my hand.

  • You gotta get a hold of yourself.

  • Oh, you really got a hold of that one.

  • I just caught hold of your coat.

  • So I got a hold of four big boxwoods.

  • Hannah shrugs and takes hold of his wrist, turning it to see the time.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The apes each have a tight hold of individual sections of hanging vine.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Holding the gaff in one hand, he reached down and took hold of the nearest pectoral fin.

    Academic text (1997)
  • He reached down and took a firm hold of the rope to steady himself.

Synonyms

ahold
vshold
  • Informal
141 8.2

A firm grip on something or a quick way to reach someone

describes the same tight grasp but without the sudden acquisition aspect
grip
vshold
116 1.0

A firm hold on something so it does not slip

is the general act of grasping without stressing extra strength
grasp
vshold
50 1.1

A tight hold with the hand or arm on something

is the same act but named more generally rather than as an action term
squeezing
vshold
4 2.0

Holding and pressing something firmly with your hand

is the same tight hand action but without emphasizing pressing or compression
clutch
vshold
3 3.9

An act of holding something tightly

is a neutral term for a tight grip without implying urgency
clasp
vshold
3 1.9

A tight hold with the hands or arms

focuses on the same tight contact but not on embracing or wrapping
taking hold
vshold
3 4.1

A firm grip with the hands or arms that keeps something from moving

is a neutral description not focused on deliberate initiation of the action
grasping
vshold
1 2.7

To hold something firmly with the hand or another body part

is the general concept of that tight hand action rather than the verb form
seizing
vshold
4.0

A tight hold on something using hands or arms

is the same physical action but without necessarily implying force or seizure

Antonyms

1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

1.0

To let something fall suddenly or by accident

Idioms

169 2.5

Stopped for a short time until someone decides to continue

75 1.2

Ask someone to wait for a short time

to hold a grudge
  • Informal
42 4.8

To feel angry at someone for something they did in the past that hurt you

Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them

to hold the bag
  • Informal
11 8.8

End up responsible for the blame or a problem others avoid

8 6.1

To have control or an advantage in a situation

8 8.2

Tell someone to wait so you can check or explain something

7 5.5

To have complete control and a strong advantage in a situation

Do what you promised in an agreement

4 4.4

Act proudly and confidently, not ashamed

3 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever

1 8.1

Do not expect it to happen soon or at all

Keep speaking for a long time in a meeting so others cannot speak

1 7.2

Tell someone to wait and be patient

1 9.7

To keep from peeing for a while

1 7.8

Drink alcohol without getting drunk

to hold the baby
  • Informal
1 8.8

To have the only responsibility for a hard problem when others avoid it

8.1

To be able to drink alcohol without getting drunk

9.0

To drink alcohol without becoming very drunk or sick

9.9

A joking request to someone to hold your drink before doing something daring

hold my beer
  • Slang
9.9

A joking way to say you will try something daring or foolish after someone else does

7.5

To do something unpleasant because it is necessary

5.0

Do as well as others in a difficult situation

Keep a wedding ring safely until it is needed in the ceremony

To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both

too hot to hold
  • Informal
7.6

So popular that people buy it very quickly

Compounds

18 3.9

A process in which an idea or habit starts to be accepted by many people

16 3.9

A space on a ship or plane that contains goods during transport

15 5.4

A robbery using threats or a sudden delay

choke hold
  • NSFW
7 7.5

A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out

3 4.1

A firm grip with the hands or arms that keeps something from moving

1 4.8

A thing you can hold for support, or simple help for someone new

scissor hold
  • Jargon
1 7.8

A position where someone wraps their legs around an opponent's body or head and presses their feet together to squeeze

wrestling hold
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A grip or move used to control an opponent in a match

A big delay that stops or slows progress

7.0

A rule that limits how much something can rise

hold-up play
  • Jargon
5.9

A way a player keeps the ball to let teammates move forward

scissors hold
  • Jargon
8.1

A wrestler wraps their legs around someone's body or head and squeezes them with the feet

How Tight

clutch
3 3.9
hold
294 1.0
grip
116 1.0
to grasp
60 1.1

Surface Forms

hold singular
holds plural

Etymology

The noun hold comes from the same Old English healdan, meaning 'to keep' or 'grip', so a strong physical 'hold' is simply a tight way of keeping something in place.