| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| hold a candle |
do as well, compare with, measure up
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The Buick is nice, but it can't hold a candle to the Cadillac.
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| hold a grudge |
stay angry for a long time, bad blood
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He gets mad, but he never holds a grudge. He forgives easily.
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| hold a meeting |
organize and conduct a meeting
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The club will hold a meeting on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
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| hold down |
keep, stay at
|
He has shown that he can hold down a job. He's reliable.
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| hold forth |
talk at length about one subject, lecture
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"If you mention his favorite topic--ants--he'll hold forth for hours!"
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| hold her liquor |
drink but not get drunk, hold your drinks
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Thelma can hold her liquor. She looks sober after five drinks.
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| hold it |
stop, this is important, hold on, wait a minute
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"You and I will swim over to - " "Hold it! I can't swim. I didn't agree to swim anywhere!"
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| hold me responsible |
say that I am responsible, carry the can, lay the blame
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Because I'm the cashier, the manager holds me responsible for missing cash.
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| hold on |
wait, do not begin, we are not ready
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Hold on! We haven't fastened our seat belts.
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| hold-out |
a person who does not agree
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There are two hold-outs, but both people are willing to negotiate.
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