All phrasal verbs
hold
/hoʊld/7 phrasal verbsThe plain verb means to grip or to maintain.
HOLD is about maintaining a position against pressure. Hold on (wait) and hold up (delay) are both about time, which makes them easy to blur — but hold up also means to rob, which context resolves fast.
HOLD ends in /ld/. The D links onto a vowel-initial particle but does not flap — “hol-don”, not “hol-ron”, because the D follows an /l/ rather than a vowel.
Side by side
Every HOLD phrasal verb, with the one line that keeps it apart from its siblings. Tap any one to open it.
| Phrasal verb | Means | How to remember it |
|---|---|---|
| hold onNo object2 meanings | wait a moment; keep gripping | ON = maintain contact. |
| hold upSeparable3 meanings | delay someone; rob at gunpoint; support | UP = stopped in place, or held aloft. |
| hold backSeparable2 meanings | restrain; withhold information | BACK = keep it from moving forward. |
| hold offBoth2 meanings | delay doing something; resist an attack | OFF = keep it at a distance. |
| hold outBoth2 meanings | resist; last longer than expected; extend a hand | OUT = you endure past the limit. |
| hold downSeparable2 meanings | keep a job; restrain physically | DOWN = keep it from rising or escaping. |
| hold ontoInseparable | keep possession of something | ONTO = do not let it go. |