2hold noun
plural holds 1 : the act of holding or gripping something [count] — usually singular ▪ He had/kept a tight hold on the rope. ▪ He loosened/tightened his hold on the handle. [noncount] ▪ He took hold of the rope. [=he took the rope and held it] ▪ She grabbed hold of his arm. [=she grabbed his arm] — often used figuratively ▪ The idea of being an actress first took/grabbed hold of her when she was in college. [=she first became excited by the idea when she was in college] ▪ Jealousy took hold of him. [=he began to feel very jealous] 2 [count] : a way of holding your opponent in wrestling
▪ The wrestler applied an illegal hold. — see also choke hold, stranglehold 3 [singular] a : power that is used to control something or someone [noncount] ▪ His ideas have lost their hold on/over the public. [=the public is no longer interested in his ideas] ▪ The law has no hold over her. ▪ He is trying to tighten his hold on the company's finances. [=to gain greater control of the company's finances] ▪ He has a hold on her. [=he has power over her; he controls her]
b : an understanding of something — usually + on ▪ It's hard to get a hold on the cause of these problems. 4 [count] : something that can be held or stepped on for support while you are climbing
▪ She searched for holds in the rock. — see also foothold, handhold, toehold 5 [singular] : an order that something is to be kept for a particular person or time
▪ I asked the library to put a hold on the book for me. [=to hold the book for me] 6 [count] : an area on a ship or airplane where cargo is stored
▪ The wrestler applied an illegal hold. — see also choke hold, stranglehold
b : an understanding of something — usually + on ▪ It's hard to get a hold on the cause of these problems.
▪ She searched for holds in the rock. — see also foothold, handhold, toehold
▪ I asked the library to put a hold on the book for me. [=to hold the book for me]
cop hold of — see 2cop
get hold of or chiefly US get a hold of 1 : to get possession of (something) : to succeed in getting (something)
▪ Somehow she managed to get hold of the band's new album before it came out. ▪ Where did you get hold of that idea? [=what led you to believe that idea?] 2 : to find and talk to (someone) : to contact (someone)
▪ I need to talk to my lawyer, but I haven't been able to get hold of him. ▪ I've been trying to get a hold of [=get in touch with] my lawyer for days. 3 get hold of yourself or chiefly US get a hold of yourself : to get control of your thoughts and emotions and stop behaving in a foolish or uncontrolled way
▪ Get a hold of yourself and tell me what happened.
▪ Somehow she managed to get hold of the band's new album before it came out. ▪ Where did you get hold of that idea? [=what led you to believe that idea?]
▪ I need to talk to my lawyer, but I haven't been able to get hold of him. ▪ I've been trying to get a hold of [=get in touch with] my lawyer for days.
▪ Get a hold of yourself and tell me what happened.
lay hold of 1 : to take and hold (something) : grab
▪ Lay hold of that rope and pull. 2 : to understand (something)
▪ The idea is difficult to lay hold of.
▪ Lay hold of that rope and pull.
▪ The idea is difficult to lay hold of.
no holds barred
◊If there are no holds barred, there are no limits or rules for what can and cannot be done in a particular situation. — see also no-holds-barred
on hold 1 : in the state of waiting to speak to someone on the telephone
▪ The person I wanted to speak to wasn't available, so the operator put my call on hold. ▪ They kept me on hold for hours! 2 : in the state of being delayed for a time
▪ Our vacation plans are on hold. = Our vacation plans have been put on hold.
▪ The person I wanted to speak to wasn't available, so the operator put my call on hold. ▪ They kept me on hold for hours!
▪ Our vacation plans are on hold. = Our vacation plans have been put on hold.
take hold or chiefly US take a hold
: to become effective, established, or popular
▪ The change in the law has not yet taken hold. ▪ new ideas that have recently taken hold in the fashion industry
▪ The change in the law has not yet taken hold. ▪ new ideas that have recently taken hold in the fashion industry
