hold onto: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    Worldwideneutral
    • To grasp or grip something physically so that it does not fall or is not taken away.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Hold onto the railing tightly as you climb the slippery stairs, so you don’t fall.

      Grasp the railing tightly as you climb the slippery stairs, so you don’t fall.

    • The child held onto his mother's hand as they crossed the busy street.

      The child grasped his mother's hand as they crossed the busy street.

    • Please hold onto your ticket until the end of the concert for entry purposes.

      Please keep your ticket until the end of the concert for entry purposes.

    • She held onto the umbrella firmly to keep it from being blown away by the wind.

      She grasped the umbrella firmly to keep it from being blown away by the wind.

  • 2.

    Worldwideneutral
    • To keep or retain possession of something; to keep something in one's control or safekeeping.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Despite the tempting offers, he decided to hold onto his shares for a better price later.

      Despite the tempting offers, he decided to keep his shares for a better price later.

    • If you hold onto your old photos, they'll be a precious memory in the future.

      If you keep your old photos, they'll be a precious memory in the future.

    • I’m going to hold onto this book until you’re finished with it.

      I’m going to keep this book until you’re finished with it.

  • 3.

    Worldwideidiomaticneutral
    • To maintain control, authority, or a position of power; to prevent losing influence or office.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The CEO held onto her position despite the board’s pressure to step down.

      The CEO maintained control of her position despite the board’s pressure to step down.

    • By winning the recent election, the party managed to hold onto power for another term.

      By winning the recent election, the party managed to maintain control for another term.

    • He’s struggling to hold onto his authority as the new manager challenges his decisions.

      He’s struggling to maintain his authority as the new manager challenges his decisions.

Examples:

  • EN: I can't hold onto them much longer.
    ES: No puedo contenerlos mucho.
  • EN: You ain't even bright enough to hold onto a tie, let alone a diamond.
    ES: Si no cuidas una corbata, mucho menos un diamante.
  • EN: Oh, no, Louis. Thanks, but you hold onto it.
    ES: No, Louis, gracias, pero quédatelo tú.
  • EN: Then I hold onto it like a bulldog with his teeth.
    ES: Luego me aferro a eso como un bulldog con sus dientes.
  • EN: Miss Hooper, you must see that to hold onto him now isn't love, it's selfishness.
    ES: Srta. Hooper, debe ver que aferrarse ahora a él no es amor, es egoísmo.
  • EN: ...hold onto your heart, Marie!
    ES: "¡Guárdalo en tu corazón, Marie!
  • EN: But I wasn't able to hold onto it.
    ES: Todos se asustaron.
  • EN: I've seen you hold onto it when things were tough.
    ES: Aférrate a él cuando las cosas se pongan feas.
  • EN: I could hold onto the rope, and we could pull them.
    ES: Yo puedo sostener la cuerda y podríamos sostenerlos.
  • EN: If you two will hold onto each other, I'll tend to your luggage.
    ES: Ustedes esperen aquí, yo me encargaré de sus equipajes.
  • EN: - Come on, hold onto me, dear...
    ES: Cielo...
  • EN: I managed to hold onto it.
    ES: Si. Pero tenemos que hablar...
  • EN: Richelieu already knew it... and even my uncle was able to hold onto this goal until 1813.
    ES: Richelieu ya lo sabía... e incluso mi tío pudo retenerlo hasta 1813
  • EN: Now hold onto yourself, kid.
    ES: - Haz un esfuerzo, chico.
  • EN: One can't hold onto anything.
    ES: No se puede retener nada.
  • EN: I can't hold onto them much longer.
    ES: No puedo contenerlos mucho.
  • EN: You ain't even bright enough to hold onto a tie, let alone a diamond.
    ES: Si no cuidas una corbata, mucho menos un diamante.
  • EN: Oh, no, Louis. Thanks, but you hold onto it.
    ES: No, Louis, gracias, pero quédatelo tú.
  • EN: Then I hold onto it like a bulldog with his teeth.
    ES: Luego me aferro a eso como un bulldog con sus dientes.
  • EN: Miss Hooper, you must see that to hold onto him now isn't love, it's selfishness.
    ES: Srta. Hooper, debe ver que aferrarse ahora a él no es amor, es egoísmo.
  • EN: ...hold onto your heart, Marie!
    ES: "¡Guárdalo en tu corazón, Marie!
  • EN: But I wasn't able to hold onto it.
    ES: Todos se asustaron.
  • EN: I've seen you hold onto it when things were tough.
    ES: Aférrate a él cuando las cosas se pongan feas.
  • EN: I could hold onto the rope, and we could pull them.
    ES: Yo puedo sostener la cuerda y podríamos sostenerlos.
  • EN: If you two will hold onto each other, I'll tend to your luggage.
    ES: Ustedes esperen aquí, yo me encargaré de sus equipajes.
  • EN: - Come on, hold onto me, dear...
    ES: Cielo...
  • EN: I managed to hold onto it.
    ES: Si. Pero tenemos que hablar...
  • EN: Richelieu already knew it... and even my uncle was able to hold onto this goal until 1813.
    ES: Richelieu ya lo sabía... e incluso mi tío pudo retenerlo hasta 1813
  • EN: Now hold onto yourself, kid.
    ES: - Haz un esfuerzo, chico.
  • EN: One can't hold onto anything.
    ES: No se puede retener nada.

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

hold onto: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator