to hold onto someone's dreams

Examples

She always holds onto her dreams despite the challenges.
No matter how hard things get, always hold onto your dreams.
It's important to hold onto your dreams even when others doubt you.
Don't hold onto her dreams too tightly!
It's important to hold onto your dreams even when others doubt you.
No matter how hard things get, always hold onto your dreams.
She encouraged her son to hold onto his dreams and never lose hope.

Synonyms

to stick with

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

341 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

is more about keeping personal hopes and actively chasing aspirations

to hold onto

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

adds emotional pursuit of hopes rather than simple physical keeping

to hold on

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

173 3.3

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

centres on emotionally cherishing and pursuing hopes rather than mere effort

to cling to

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

111 3.3

To hold tightly to something or keep believing something strongly in hard times

is more positive cherishing and pursuing hopes rather than desperate holding

to hang on

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

Informal

46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

adds emotional valuing of future goals while continuing to pursue them

to hold to

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

applies that loyalty to personal aspirations rather than to general principles

to persevere

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

22 5.1

Keep trying to do something even when it is hard

stresses keeping personal hopes and dreams while continuing the effort

to follow your dream

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

18 3.4

To try to reach a personal goal despite problems

focuses more on emotionally keeping hopes while still pursuing them

to hold fast

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

11 5.5

To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea

focuses more on personal hopes and actively pursuing them despite setbacks

to pursue a dream

vsto hold onto someone's dreams

1 3.0

Work to make a dream come true

adds emotional cherishing and endurance during setbacks to that activity

Antonyms

to abandon

773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

neglect

100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

How Determined

to persevere

22 5.1

to hold onto someone's dreams

4.8

to pursue

∞ 3.5

to aspire

106 4.1

Surface Forms

hold onto someone's dreams infinitive

held onto someone's dreams past

held onto someone's dreams past participle

holding onto someone's dreams present participle

holds onto someone's dreams third person singular

Morphology

hold + onto + someone's + dream

The verb phrase 'hold onto' is a transparent phrasal verb meaning 'keep' or 'retain', so combined with 'someone's dreams' the meaning 'keep or continue to pursue one's aspirations' is directly derivable from the parts. Although it involves an abstract/metaphorical extension from physical holding to maintaining hopes, this is a common and predictable composition found across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely understand it.

Etymology

Hold onto someone's dreams gives a simple picture: imagine someone using both hands to hold onto a paper marked dreams while a strong wind tries to pull it away. That's why the phrase means 'to keep your hopes and goals' and not give up when things are hard.