hold down

What does "hold down" mean?

1. To keep something at a low level
2. To keep a job successfully
3. To physically restrain someone or something
4. To press and keep something in place

Examples

• The government is trying to hold down inflation.
• He can't hold down a job for more than a few months.
• It took three people to hold him down.
• Hold down the Ctrl key and press C to copy.
• They're struggling to hold down costs.

How to use it

'Can't hold down a job' is a common expression for someone who frequently loses employment. For computer use, 'hold down' a key is standard terminology.

Word order

Object can go between: 'hold prices down' or after: 'hold down prices'. For computer keys: 'hold down the key'.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• hold on

  To wait for a short time

• hold up

  To delay or slow down something

• hold back

  To prevent someone or something from advancing

• hold off

  To delay doing something

• hold out

  To resist or survive in a difficult situation

• hold together

  To remain in one piece without breaking