hold out

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Verb

hold out

1. (transitive, literally) To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.

   He held out his hand, and I grabbed it.

   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

     I held out my hand, and the horrible, soft-spoken, eyeless creature gripped it in a moment like a vise. I was so much startled that I struggled to withdraw; but the blind man pulled me close up to him with a single action of his arm.

2. (figuratively) To offer, present (a hope, possibility, opportunity etc.)

   The prospectus held out the promise of enormous profits to be made.

3. (idiomatic, often, with for) To wait, or refuse in hopes of getting something better (from a negotiation, etc.)

   I am holding out for more money.

   How long has he been holding out?

4. (idiomatic) To survive, endure.

   How long can they hold out without water?

5. (idiomatic, usually, with on) To withhold something.

   You've got a key! Why have you been holding out on me?

6. (transitive) To set something aside or save it for later.

   Pack the boxes, but hold out a few blue ones for later.

Translations

• German: abwarten, ausharren, (beharrlich) warten, (unbeirrbar) warten

Translations

• French: tenir
• German: aushalten
• Italian: resistere, sopravvivere
• Portuguese: prevalecer
• Spanish: aguantar

Translations

• German: zurückhalten
• Italian: aspettarsi
• Spanish: retener

Translations

• German: aufheben, aufsparen
• Spanish: guardar

Noun

hold out (plural hold outs)

1. Alternative spelling of holdout.

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