| Principal Translations |
| 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. |