Online Language Dictionaries

hold back

Principal Translations
Inglés		Español
hold [sb] back vtr phrasal sep	(restrain [sb] physically)	contener⇒ vtr
		sujetar⇒ vtr
	The boys started fighting so teachers came to hold them back.
	Los chicos comenzaron a pelear y los profesores tuvieron que contenerlos.
hold [sth] back vtr phrasal sep	(restrain, keep under control)	contener⇒ vtr
		reprimir⇒ vtr
	He held back his anger until the children had gone to bed.
	She had had such a bad day, she couldn't hold back the tears any longer.
	Contuvo la ira hasta que los niños se fueron a dormir. // Había tenido un día tan malo que no pudo contener más las lágrimas.
hold [sb] back vtr phrasal sep	figurative (hinder [sb]'s progress)	ser un lastre loc verb
	She wants to be an actress but a lack of talent is holding her back.
	Quiere ser actriz pero su falta de talento es un lastre.
hold [sth] back vtr phrasal sep	figurative (not divulge [sth])	ocultar⇒, esconder⇒ vtr
		callar⇒ vtr
	She said she had told him all about her previous marriage, but he suspected she was holding something back.
	Le dijo que le había contado todo sobre su matrimonio anterior, pero él sospechaba que ocultaba algo.
hold [sth] back vtr phrasal sep	(withhold, not give [sth]) (objetos, dinero)	retener⇒ vtr
	He didn't give me all the money today, he's holding back half of it till the work is finished.
	No me ha dado todo el dinero hoy, ha decidido retener la mitad hasta que el trabajo esté listo.
hold back vi phrasal	figurative (repress feelings)	contenerse⇒ v prnl
		reprimirse⇒ v prnl
	She is always holding back, afraid to share her true feelings.
	Siempre se está conteniendo, teme mostrar sus verdaderos sentimientos.

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Compound Forms:
Inglés		Español
not hold back v expr	informal (express feelings freely)	mostrarse tal cual expr
	No se controla en absoluto, se muestra tal cual le apetece.
		no reprimirse adv + v prnl
	No reprimas tus sentimientos, si sientes ganas de llorar, hazlo.
not hold back v expr	(not restrain oneself)	no contenerse adv + v prnl
	In self-defense, one should not hold back.
	En la autodefensa uno no debe contenerse.
		no refrenarse adv + v prnl
	En la autodefensa uno no debe refrenarse.

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