to hold tight
42
2.2
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
sujetar con fuerza
- As the roller coaster climbed higher, she had to hold tight to the safety bar to feel secure.
- grab and hold tight
- hands held tight
- hold tight, baby
It can be tempting to want to hold those silk ribbons tight in your hands.
- It can be tempting to want to hold those silk ribbons tight in your hands.
- Put some love on the humans and the animals in your life tonight and hold them tight.
- Mandy's now going to hold the two tapes tight while I fasten on the back of these little grasps.
- It kind of drives back a nuts because I put a pillow on my head pillow and I hold tight.
Examples
-
Polina carried the ring back into the main house, holding it tight in her fist.
Fiction book (1995) -
Cooper catches him, holds him tight as the wave carries them towards the wall.
Fiction book (1997) -
When you want to hold their hands really tight because you love them.
-
But he put the child on his back and called out, "Hold on tight!" The child stopped struggling.
Academic text (2007) -
"When the plane reached its maximum speed, it began to shake and I held tight to the seat.
Fiction book (1992) -
Lottie, you hold the boy tight.
-
So I held tight to what I did not yet know was a lifeline.
Academic text (2012) -
And when she leaned in, he held her tight and whispered that she should call him.
-
"That's the truth," I sighed, and Tommy held me tight against him.
Fiction book (1991) -
And so, he held tight to the slats; he wrapped his hands tightly around them.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To take hold of something quickly with your hand
∞
2.7
To hold on tightly so you do not let go
240
2.1
To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go
180
3.0
To keep something and not let it go
141
2.0
To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall
119
1.6
To press something firmly with your hand or fingers
118
3.4
To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling
85
1.3
To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe
70
3.5
To squeeze something tightly with your hands or teeth
61
3.4
To hold tightly to someone or something because of fear, need, affection
33
2.6
To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands
21
3.1
Grab something or someone with your hands
15
2.0
To grasp something with your hands
11
5.5
To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea
1
1.4
Keep a person or thing tightly against your body
To hold on to something so it stays attached
Antonyms
How Tight
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to grip or grasp something firmly' is directly and transparently built from 'hold' (to take/support in hand) + 'tight' (firmly/snugly), so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the idiomatic sense. This verb + adverb composition is a common, predictable pattern in English (and in many other languages), making the expression immediately comprehensible.
Etymology
The phrasal verb hold tight comes from the real action of using your hands to hold something tight—for example, clutching a rail in strong wind or a bar on a ride so you do not fall. So, it now means 'to grip something firmly for safety or support'.