hold the line
Verb
  1. (idiomatic) To firmly maintain one's viewpoint, principles, or situation; to refuse to change one's practices or plans.
    • 1966 Nov. 29, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iu9YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U1cMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4596,3383092&dq=hold-the-line&hl=en UN Expected To Hold Line On Red China]," The Robesonian (USA), p. 1 (retrieved 29 Aug 2012):
      The UN General Assembly was expected to hold the line again today against seating Red China.
    • 1992 Dec. 9, "Business Loans Up ↗," New York Times (retrieved 29 Aug 2012):
      The quarterly survey . . . said banks were holding the line on lending standards for commercial loans and were more willing to lend to individuals.
    • 2010 July 2, Jay Newton-Small, "[http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2001383,00.html Amid a Political Standoff, the Unemployed Still Wait]" Time:
      But the GOP lawmakers are happy to take home the news that they have held the line against deficit spending.



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