hold back
phrasal verbhold somebody/something back
- to prevent somebody/something from moving forward or crossing something
- The police were unable to hold back the crowd.
- The dam was not strong enough to hold back the flood waters.
- to prevent the progress or development of somebody/something
- Do you think that mixed-ability classes hold back the better students?
- We are determined that nothing should hold back the peace talks.
hold something back
- to not tell somebody something they want or need to know
- to hold back information
- I think he's holding something back. I'm sure he knows more than he admits.
- to stop yourself from expressing how you really feel
- She just managed to hold back her anger.
- He bravely held back his tears.
hold back (from doing something) | hold somebody back (from doing something)
- to hesitate or to make somebody hesitate to act or speak
- She held back, not knowing how to break the terrible news.
- I wanted to tell him the truth, but something held me back.