to decide not to do or say something, or to make someone decide not to do or say something
to not allow someone to have something, for example money
to not show what you are thinking or feeling
to stop someone from being as successful as they should
to stop someone or something from moving forwards
to stop something from progressing or developing as it should
And they think that the only thing that is holding back the tide of idiocy is the BBC.
Are you perhaps holding back on something?
Bus cuts on the scale we are facing risk holding back economic recovery.
But of course it is painful for you to feel held back like this.
But she won't hold back when something needs saying!
Focus on lots of loving foreplay and agree that you'll not hold back when it feels right.
Having his thoughts elsewhere when you are making love is his way of holding back from true intimacy.
He held back, remembering the mistake he had made before.
He will not hold back if he gets his chance at Home Park.
Her hair was held back by two clips.
Her parents worried that her classmates were holding her back.
Hold back from getting involved with other women for now and work out why this rejection hurts so much.
In part it is held back by the conducting.
Increasing interference and regulation from Brussels is one of the things holding back British business and slowing recovery.
It can feel safer to hold back part of your heart, but loving without limits changes so much about your life.
It can feel safer to hold back some of your feelings, but now you're ready to show how deep love goes.
It can feel safer to hold back some of your love but it is time to put your whole heart into the relationship.
It holds back productivity and economic growth.
It's more likely to be that you are subconsciously holding back in some way.
Joe held back his anger.
Long-term water shortages can hold economic development back.
Now she is not holding back, raving about weed.
Ollie had to hold Tom back to prevent him retaliating.
She bit her lip to hold back the tears.
So there's no reason to hold back or go easy.
Surprisingly, you're as likely to hold back about certain matters as others.
The match really was played in the best possible way: mistimed tackles were acknowledged and apologised for, yet no one held back a thing.
They held back the final payment because they weren’t satisfied with the work.
This is having a negative impact on the construction industry at a time when weak demand is holding back wider economic recovery.
Unless solutions appear, growth is going to be held back.
Very little would have been held back, either about his own players or about the opposition.
Wales certainly weren't going to be holding back.
holds back
holding back
held back
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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