Pronunciation: /hoʊld bæk/
noun a restraint or hindrance
A1 I have a hard time with public speaking because I always hold back.
A2 She felt a sense of hold back when trying to express her emotions.
B1 The team's success was hindered by their hold back on implementing new strategies.
B2 His hold back in sharing his ideas with the group limited their potential for innovation.
C1 The company's conservative approach was seen as a hold back to their growth in the market.
C2 The government's hold back on funding for education has had a negative impact on the quality of schools.
verb to restrain or prevent from advancing
A1 I always hold back my tears when I watch sad movies.
A2 She couldn't hold back her laughter during the comedy show.
B1 He tried to hold back his anger, but eventually lost his temper.
B2 The team decided to hold back their strategy until the last minute.
C1 The politician had to hold back certain information until the investigation was complete.
C2 The artist refused to hold back his creativity, pushing boundaries in his latest masterpiece.
formal It is important to not hold back any information during the investigation.
informal Don't hold back, tell me everything that happened.
slang Just let it all out, don't hold back.
figurative Sometimes we hold back our true feelings to avoid conflict.
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