frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

on or upon. lecture (on), declaim, harangue, preach (on or
about), orate, sermonize (on), discourse (on), speechify (on or
about), expatiate or expand on or upon, Colloq go on (about),
Brit rabbit or natter or witter on (about): As usual, Pinckley
endlessly held forth on his pet subject, fishing. b hold out,
offer, proffer, tender, submit, advance, propose, propound, hold
out, extend: The company has held forth a profit-sharing plan
that we cannot refuse. 17 hold in. a control, curb, check, hold
back, restrain, contain: I could hold myself in no longer and a
scream escaped my lips. b conceal, hide, suppress: How can I
hold in my feelings for you? 18 hold off. a delay, defer, put
off, refrain from, postpone, avoid: We held off buying till we
had the money saved up. b repel, keep off, repulse, fend off,
rebuff, resist, withstand: We held off the attackers till help
came. 19 hold on. a grip, grasp, hold, clutch, cling: Hold on
to the rope and I'll pull you up. b keep, maintain, cling, hang
on, retain: Don't try to hold on to yesterday's dreams. c
stop, wait, hold off, Colloq hang on: Hold on a minute! I'm not
finished. 20 hold out. a last, carry on, persist, persevere,
continue, hang on, stand firm or chiefly US pat, endure: I hope
that the good weather holds out for our trip. Can we hold out
till reinforcements arrive? b offer, proffer, extend, hold
forth, present: I grasped the hand he held out. 21 hold over.
a postpone, delay, defer, put off, hold off, suspend: The
decision is to be held over till next year. b continue, retain,
extend, prolong: The singer was popular enough to be held over
a month. 22 hold up. a rob, waylay, Colloq mug, stick up;
knock off or US over: Two men held up the bank courier last
night. b delay, impede, hinder, slow (down or up), set back,
detain: I was held up by the infernal traffic again. c last,
survive, fare, bear up, endure: I am not sure that my car will
hold up through another winter. d present, show, exhibit,
display: Gibbons has been held up to ridicule since the
scandal. 23 hold with. support, sustain, agree to or with,
favour, countenance, approve (of), subscribe to, condone, concur
with: Being married to her doesn't mean you have to hold with
all her ideas.
--n. 24 grasp, grip, clasp, clutch: Take hold of the rope! 25
foothold, toe-hold, purchase: She lost her hold and fell. He
has a good hold on the subject. 26 power, dominance, mastery,
control, ascendancy, authority, influence, leverage, sway,
Colloq pull, clout: She has a hold over him that makes him do