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Glite Dictionary
to hold the ring

to hold the ring

6.8
Keep a wedding ring safely until it is needed in the ceremony
  • idiom
translation icon : sostener el anillo
  • Manage the bridesmaids, hold the ring, support the bride.

Examples

  • Could you please hold the ring until the ceremony starts?

  • Robbie, I want you to hold the ring for me.

    I Love You, Man (2009)

  • During the wedding rehearsal, Sarah was asked to hold the ring for her sister.

  • The best man will hold the ring until it's time for the vows.

Synonyms

to keep
vsto hold the ring
∞ 1.0

To store something for later use

is temporary entrusted safekeeping specifically until needed in a ceremony
to hold
vsto hold the ring
∞ 1.3

To keep something for someone to use later

is short-term care of an item until needed during a ceremony
to hold onto
vsto hold the ring
180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

is more about temporarily caring and handing over at the right moment
to hold on
vsto hold the ring
72 1.6

To keep something instead of selling or giving it away

is specific short-term safekeeping for use during a ceremony

Surface Forms

hold the ring infinitive
held the ring past
held the ring past participle
holding the ring present participle
holds the ring third person singular

Morphology

hold + the + ring

The meaning is a literal composition of 'hold' (to take and support in hand) + 'ring' (a piece of jewellery), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer that the speaker asks someone to keep or look after the ring temporarily. The phrase involves no idiomatic shift or metaphor and follows a common cross-linguistic pattern of verb + object, making it transparent.

Etymology

Hold the ring comes from weddings, where someone literally holds the wedding ring until it is needed during the ceremony. So it means 'to look after the ring temporarily'.