Phrasal verbs with hold

When you think of hold, you probably picture gripping something firmly in your hands. This basic idea of maintaining control or keeping something in place runs through most phrasal verbs with this verb. The different particles then show you exactly how this control works.

Some combinations focus on physical control. You hold on when you grip something tightly and refuse to let go, while hold on to something means you keep it safe and don't give it away. When you hold something down, you use force to keep it in position, and hold something together means you prevent it from breaking apart.

Other phrasal verbs with hold show control over time and situations. You hold back when you stop yourself from acting, and you hold someone back when you prevent their progress. Hold off means you delay doing something, choosing when to act. If something holds up well, it stays strong over time, but if traffic holds you up, it delays your journey.

The idea of control also appears in more complex meanings. When you hold something against someone, you maintain negative feelings about their past actions. Hold out can mean offering hope or refusing to accept less than you want. Even hold forth involves controlling a conversation by speaking at length.

Understanding this basic pattern of control and maintenance will help you remember how these combinations work together.