hold back

What does "hold back" mean?

1. To prevent someone or something from advancing
2. To restrain emotions or tears
3. To keep information secret
4. To hesitate or be reluctant to do something

Examples

• She couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
• Don't hold back any information from the police.
• Fear of failure is holding him back.
• The dam holds back millions of gallons of water.
• He held back from asking the question.

How to use it

'Hold back' tears is very common for emotional control. 'Holding something back' for information suggests deliberate concealment. 'Don't hold back' means express yourself freely.

Word order

Object can go between: 'hold your tears back' or after: 'hold back your tears'. For hesitating: 'hold back from' + verb-ing.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• hold on

  To wait for a short time

• hold up

  To delay or slow down something

• hold off

  To delay doing something

• hold out

  To resist or survive in a difficult situation

• hold down

  To keep something at a low level

• hold together

  To remain in one piece without breaking