Hold them back vs Hold them down

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and contexts. 'Hold them back' means to prevent someone or something from advancing or moving forward, while 'hold them down' means to keep someone or something in a lower position or to prevent them from rising. The choice between the two phrases depends on the specific situation and what you want to convey.

Last updated: April 06, 2024 • 94 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Hold them back"

This phrase is used when you want to prevent someone or something from advancing or moving forward. It can be used in various contexts, such as holding back a crowd, emotions, or progress.

Examples:

The police had to hold back the crowd to maintain order.
She struggled to hold back her tears during the emotional speech.
We need to hold back on making a decision until we have more information.

Show examples from the web [+]

Surrender. I can't hold them back.
I couldn't hold them back when they heard about Sparta leading us in this war.
Homeland is coming with everything they have, and when they get here, we will not be able to hold them back.
Well, what if it doesn't hold them back?
Once the engine issues are overcome, it will be hard to hold them back.
Who tries to hold them back is a nice white-bearded bishop, with cloak and crosier, Saint Nicholas, who holds a big book containing the name, character, good and bad actions of every child he visits during the magical night of 5th December.
Go now. I can't hold them back any longer.
I will hold them back for as long as I am able.
I could only watch helplessly as my men tried to hold them back, but they kept coming.
The NID wants the prisoners, and the president's not going to be able to hold them back forever.
During her travels, she forms affections for Touya, but tries to hold them back for the sake of her sister, who also falls for him.
I can't hold them back!
We have to remember that we do have our voice and 60 years ago the people were so strong together that the dictatorship alone could not hold them back and they needed the Russians to stop them.
I can hold them back for a few hours more.
Werham will struggle to hold them back.
Hold them back for us an hour or two.
Hold them back, hold the door.
But that wouldn't hold them back for long.
The Valkyries and I have been fighting to hold them back.
Well, then you better hold them back.

Alternatives:

restrain them
keep them at bay
prevent them from advancing
hold them off

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Hold them down"

This phrase is used when you want to keep someone or something in a lower position or prevent them from rising. It can be used in various contexts, such as holding down a piece of paper, holding down a job, or holding down costs.

Examples:

She had to hold down two jobs to support her family.
Please hold down the fort while I'm gone.
We need to hold down expenses to stay within budget.

Show examples from the web [+]

I could hold them down and you could paint them.
If you want to, I could just hold them down and you could just...
My arms will hold them down when they struggle.
And the advantage of stunning someone... you don't need so much strength to hold them down after.
Because as we sit here chatting... there are papers flying around my apartment... because I don't have anything to hold them down with.
Will you hold them down 'til the next stop?
Remember when they were little and all I had to do was just hold them down and make them do it?
I'll hold them down myself.
If you are dexterous, you can press the right-mouse-button and then the left-mouse button and hold them down at the same time to target an object and rotate the camera.
Remember when they were little and all I had to do was just hold them down and make them do it?
14, let those guys make their delivery Renan is going to hold them down there.
A giant cat that would come into somebody's house while they were sleeping, hold them down... It's like clawed...

Alternatives:

keep them in check
restrain them
keep them under control
keep them down

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Hold them back vs Hold them down

"Hold them back"

"Hold them down"

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