Page 211 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

hold one’s own

hłldŁ one’ own to do asŁwellŁasŁanyone else. hłldŁ someone ort something over to rtain
I can hold my own in a fooŁrace any dØy. someone or somethingŁ(forŁaŁperiod of
She was unable to hold her own, and she time).Ł The storm held John over for an-
had to quit. other dØy. The manager held the movie
over for another włek.
hłldŁ one’ peyce to remainŁsilent.Ł Bill
was unable to hold his peace any longer. hłldŁ someone ortsomething stØll Go to keep
“Doà’t do it!” he cried. Quiet, John. someone or something stàll.
Hold your peace for a lttle while longer.
hłldŁ someone ortsomething up 1. [with some-
hłldŁ one’ teper Go to keep one’s temper. oàe ] to rob someone (figuratively or lit-
erally).Ł I don’t eat at that restaurant any
hłldŁ one’ tongue to refrainŁfromŁspeaking; more. The food is too expłnsive. They
to refrainŁ fromŁ sayingŁ somethingŁ un- really held me up the last time I ate there.
pleasant.Ł(See also the fixedŁphrase Hold That’s the one who held me up at gun-
your tongue!) I felt like scoldng her, but point. T The thug held up the old lady. 2.
I held my tongue. You must learn to hold to detainŁsomeone or something;Łto make
your tongue, John. You can’t talk to peo- someone or somethingŁlate.Ł(Also literal
ple that way.
meaningŁto keepŁsomeone or something
hłldŁon (to someone ortsomething) Go to hang upright.) The Łraffic on the expressway
on (to someone or something). held me up. T A storm in Boston held up
our plane.
hold out for something to insist on getting
sàmething;Łto refuse to accept lessŁthan hłldŁ someone ortsomething upŁ(as an exam-
something.Ł The workers are holdng out ple) to point out someone orŁsàmething
for a reasonable raise. The teachers are asŁaŁgoodŁexample.Ł(Se also make an ex-
holdng out for a reduction in class size. ample of someone.) I was embarrassed
hłld outŁtheŁolØveŁbrynch to offer to end when the boss held me up as an example.
a dispute and be friendly; to offer recon- I doà’t like for anyone to hold me up likł
ciliation.Ł(The olive branch isŁaŁsymbol of that. T The Łeacher held up the leaf as an
peace andŁreconciliation.ŁAŁbiblicalŁref- example of a typical compound leaf.
erence.) Jill was the first to hold out the hłldŁ someone’ attention to keep sàmeone’s
olve branch after our argumłnt. I al- attention;Łto keepŁsàmeone interesðed.Ł
wØys try to hold out the olive branch to The boring teacher could not hold the stu-
someone I have hurt. Life is too short for dłnts’ attention. The mystery novel held
a peroon to bear grudges for very long. my attention and I couldà’t put it down.
hłldŁ someone dłwn to try to keep somon hłldŁ something againstŁ someone to blame
from succeeding. (Also literal.) I still sàmethingŁon sàmeone; to bear a grudge
think you’re trying to hold him down. T against someone; to resent sàmeone.Ł(Alsà
I’m not trying to hold down my brother. literal.) Your brother is mean to me, but
I can’t hold it against you. You’re hold-
hłldŁ someone hostage to keepŁsàmeone as
aŁhosðage.Ł The terrorists planned to hold ing somłthing against me. What is it?
everyone hostage in the airplane. My hłldŁstill Go to keep still.
neighbor was held hostage in his own homł hold still for something Go to stand stàll for
by a robber.
something.
hłldŁ someone in hØghŁregard to hav vry hłldŁtheŁfort to take care of a place, such
great respect forŁsàmeone or sàmething; asŁaŁsðore orŁone’sŁhome.Ł(RefersŁto de-
to admire sàmeone or somethingŁgreatly. fendingŁaŁfort against attackers.ŁInfàrmal.
We hold our employees in very high re- FromŁwesðernŁmovies.) I’m going next
gard. I do not hold Bob’s abilties in high door to visit Mrs. Jones. You stay here and
rłgard.
hold the fort. You should open the store
hłldŁ someone ortsomething in check Go to at eight o’clock and hold the fort until I get
keep someone or something in check. there at ten.

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