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Glite Dictionary
to hold still for

to hold still for

7.5
Allow something unpleasant without complaining
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : aguantar
  • If you want to ace the x-ray, you need to hold still for a few seconds.

Examples

  • Hold still for a minute, ok? -

    Rushmore (1998)

  • How do you expect to get a two-year-old to hold still for 12 point anything seconds?

    Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)

  • - According to my calculations, he's gotta hold still for 12.2 seconds.

    Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)

  • She had to hold still for the photographer to get a good picture.

  • It's hard to get a toddler to hold still for their haircut.

Synonyms

to live with
vsto hold still for
563 3.9

To accept something unpleasant that you cannot change

applies generally, not only when change is impossible
to endure
vsto hold still for
304 3.5

To deal with something difficult for a long time without giving up

covers the same idea but also fits short or unwanted situations
to tolerate
vsto hold still for
290 3.5

Endure something unpleasant without complaining

is similar but often stresses lasting suffering rather than mere allowance
to stand for
vsto hold still for
  • Informal
89 3.5

To accept something bad or wrong without complaining

is like this but can apply to any unpleasant event not only wrong acts
to bear with
vsto hold still for
44 4.8

To be patient with someone while they fix something

is broader, covering tolerance beyond temporary waiting situations
to sit through
vsto hold still for
37 3.0

Stay until the end of something boring or unpleasant

is more general, covering tolerance in many kinds of situations
to bear the thought
vsto hold still for
  • Informal
9 6.1

To accept or live with an idea that makes you unhappy

is about tolerating actual situations rather than only ideas
to dree
vsto hold still for
  • Archaic
9.9

To suffer something unpleasant without complaining

is broader, applying to both patient suffering and simple tolerance

Antonyms

to avoid
∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

to escape
263 1.4

To avoid being harmed or affected by something unpleasant

How Tolerant

to endure
304 3.5
to bear
876 3.9
to hold still for
  • Informal
7.5
to tolerate
290 3.5
to put up with
288 4.3

Surface Forms

hold still for infinitive
holding still for present participle
holds still for third person singular
held still for past
held still for past participle

Morphology

hold + still + for

The literal composition 'hold' + 'still' primarily yields 'remain motionless', so the sense 'to tolerate or endure' is a metaphorical extension (i.e. to keep oneself from reacting). Because the connection is partial and relies on an extended, non-literal use of the constituents, a B1 learner who knows the words would not reliably predict this meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase hold still for comes from the picture of someone being kept still while something unpleasant happens, like a child held to hold still for a doctor's shot for the good of the treatment. So it now means 'to tolerate' or 'to put up with' something you do not like.