Phrasal verb
hold back
Meanings
to prevent someone or something from moving forward or making progress
to control your feelings or avoid showing strong emotion
to not tell or reveal information; to keep something to yourself
Definition
To hold back means to stop yourself or something from moving forward or being expressed.
To hold back can mean to keep something or someone from moving forward or progressing. It can also mean to control your emotions or avoid saying what you really think. In everyday English, it often suggests restraint, hesitation, or preventing action.
Examples
- I tried to hold back my tears during the goodbye speech.
- Please don’t hold back; tell me what you really think.
- The narrow road held back traffic for hours after the accident.
- She didn’t want to hold back any details about what happened at work.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse “hold back” (restrain or prevent) with “hold on” (wait or keep something).
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.