hold someone or something off
- hold someone or something off
hold someone or something off†
1. and
keep someone or something off†
Lit. to do something physical to keep someone or something away; to stave someone or something off. •
Tom was trying to rob us, but we managed to hold him off.
•
We held off the attackers.
•
I couldn't keep off the reporters any longer.
2. Fig. to make someone or something wait. •
I know a lot of people are waiting to see me. Hold them off for a while longer.
•
See what you can do to hold off the reporters.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
hold on to something for dear life — hang/hold on (to (something/someone)) for dear life to hold something or someone as tightly as you can in order to avoid falling. I sat behind Gary on the bike and hung on for dear life as we sped off. A rope was passed down and she held on to it … New idioms dictionary
hold someone/something off — resist an attacker or challenge he held off a late challenge by Vose to win by thirteen seconds … Useful english dictionary
fight someone/something off — REPEL, repulse, beat off/back, ward off, fend off, keep/hold at bay, drive away/back, force back. → fight * * * defend oneself against an attack by someone or something well fed people are better able to fight off infectious disease … Useful english dictionary
hold — hold1 [ hould ] (past tense and past participle held [ held ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 carry ▸ 2 stop someone/something from moving ▸ 3 put arms around someone ▸ 4 (be able to) contain ▸ 5 have ▸ 6 continue in same state ▸ 7 keep/stop something ▸ 8 not… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
hold back — verb 1. hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of (Freq. 4) Arrest the downward trend Check the growth of communism in South East Asia Contain the rebel movement Turn back the tide of communism • Syn: ↑check, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
hold — Ⅰ. hold [1] ► VERB (past and past part. held) 1) grasp, carry, or support. 2) keep or detain. 3) have in one s possession. 4) contain or be capable of containing. 5) have or occupy (a job or position) … English terms dictionary
hold — hold1 [hōld] vt. held, holding [ME holden < Anglian OE haldan (WS healdan), akin to Ger halten, Goth haldan, to tend sheep < IE base * kel , to drive, incite to action > Gr kelēs, swift horse, L celer, swift: prob. sense development:… … English World dictionary
head someone/something off — 1 he went to head off the cars: INTERCEPT, divert, deflect, redirect, re route, draw away, turn away. 2 they headed off a row: FORESTALL, avert, ward … Useful english dictionary
fend someone/something off — Syn: ward off, head off, stave off, hold off, repel, repulse, resist, fight off … Synonyms and antonyms dictionary
hold — hold1 W1S1 [həuld US hould] v past tense and past participle held [held] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(in your hand/arms)¦ 2¦(event)¦ 3¦(keep something in position)¦ 4¦(job/title)¦ 5¦(keep/store)¦ 6¦(keep something available for somebody)¦ 7¦(keep somebody… … Dictionary of contemporary English
hold — 1 verb past tense and past participle held IN YOUR HANDS/ARMS 1 a) (T) to have something firmly in your hand or arms: He was holding a knife in one hand. | Can you hold the groceries for me while I open the door? | I held the baby in my arms. |… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
