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ahold

ahold

141 8.2
A firm grip on something or a quick way to reach someone
  • noun
  • /əˈhoʊld/
  • Informal
translation icon : agarre
  • With a tight ahold on the handle, she was ready to lift the heavy suitcase.
  • get ahold of
  • grab ahold of
  • try to get ahold

That one that that can be tough to see and, you know, you just know that that mother of father is trying to get ahold of their son.

Examples

  • The climber finally secured an ahold of the rope, preventing a dangerous fall.

  • And just wait until I get ahold of your car.

  • So, you keep ahold of it.

  • How did you get ahold of this?

  • But then you got ahold of something and did not let go.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • I was the first one to grab ahold of the ball.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I guess some other animal got ahold of them, eventually.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • She'll always know how to get ahold of us.

  • Now you got to get ahold of yourself, Leon.

  • Boy, I think we've got ahold of something here.

Synonyms

hold
vsahold
294 1.0

A firm grip on something

is a sudden, firm grip rather than a general tight grasp

How Firm

grip
116 1.0
ahold
  • Informal
141 8.2
hold
294 1.0

Surface Forms

ahold singular
aholds plural

Morphology

ahold = hold (semi-transparent) = a + hold

The core meaning comes from 'hold', but the prefix 'a-' is an archaic/informal locative prefix that is not productive in modern English and may be unfamiliar to learners.

Etymology

Ahold comes from joining a and hold, where hold means 'a firm grip'. So think of someone who 'gets a hold' of a rope quickly, because ahold means getting that grip fast and firmly.