to hold the line
8
5.4
- phrasal verb
:
mantenerse firme
- We need to strengthen the members of Congress who are willing to hold the line for working families.
- Republicans are holding the line
- able to hold the line
- going to hold the line
Ukraine is holding the line for Eastern Europe.
- Ukraine is holding the line for Eastern Europe.
- And that means basically that we have to hold the line against it.
- Sorry, but she's not this principled person who just held the line against Trump.
- The brief is to hold the line to contain and stop the spread of communism.
- I mean, I am sick because I was one of those stupid optimistic people that thought the courts would hold the line for democracy, and the lower courts have.
- My grandfather spilled his blood on this land, held the line as a machine gunner against the Nazi invasion, surviving impossible odds.
- But if we hold the line in defense of values that we share with people around the world and we and we project confidence about it, we're going to be OK.
- And Pompeo was strong and tough and held the line instead of for America.
- And he says, you know, it's Christmas and Kim just holds the line.
- Virtue while defeating adversity is just the same as it is while holding the line in the midst of prosperity.
- We all do when those tough, when those tough times come, just, you know, just hold the line, baby.
- Where can we hold the line of compassion for our partners and the situation whilst still honouring our own truth and doing that in this very eloquent way?
Examples
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During the heated debate, she chose to hold the line on her stance regarding healthcare reform.
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Despite a struggling economy, the city has held the line on taxes and managed to avoid service cuts this year.
Blog text (27) -
And that means basically that we have to hold the line against it.
-
We're gonna hold the line.
-
You hold the line no matter what the market does.
-
The House needs to hold the line in fear of the American people.
Blog text (25) -
The only real power Republicans have is to hold the line on the budget.
Blog text (10) -
But if we hold the line in defense of values that we share with people around the world and we and we project confidence about it, we're going to be OK.
-
If you don't believe in them enough to "hold the line," how can you get anyone else to believe in them?
Blog text (11) -
The brief is to hold the line to contain and stop the spread of communism.
Synonyms
293
3.2
To defend yourself when someone treats you unfairly
173
3.3
To keep trying and not give up when things are hard
139
3.7
To refuse to give up until you get what you want
82
4.1
Set a clear limit on what you will accept
55
4.0
To stop an opponent from moving forward by keeping your position
25
5.7
To keep your position when others disagree
22
3.7
Keep your decision or opinion when others try to make you change
9
4.5
To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure
4
6.4
Refuse to change your mind when others disagree
2
4.4
Keep the same decision even when others disagree
2
7.9
To keep the same opinion or decision and not change it
2
7.7
To refuse to change your mind and stay firm
1
4.4
To state an opinion strongly and refuse to change it when others disagree
1
6.7
Refuse to change an opinion or plan when pressed
1
7.8
Refuse to change an opinion or position at all
Antonyms
How Firm
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'hold' (to keep or maintain) combined with 'line' (a boundary, limit, or position) yields a fairly predictable metaphor of keeping a boundary or position intact. However, the use as a set phrase meaning 'refuse to change a stance under pressure' requires a metaphorical mapping from physical holding to political or social steadfastness, so it is partly but not fully derivable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Hold the line likely comes from the idea of defending a clear boundary, where people stood firm on their line and would not move back. So, it now means 'to refuse to change a position'.