There are a lot of idioms and expressions in English that make use of the word ‘hold’. In this lesson, I explain several of them. First watch the lesson, then review the idioms below:
hold on = wait
hold your horses = have patience
hold your peace = remain silent
hold your tongue = shut up
hold up =
1. a delay, something making you wait
2. a robbery
hold my own = to be as good as anyone else
hold my ground = to not change my position
If you can think of any other idioms that use the word ‘hold’, let me know in the comments below.
215 COMMENTS
Thanks that was very helpful and clear.
My pleasure, Ana.
Hey James,
Please don’t hold your peace!
And same as always keep your ground ^
can i have your Facebook Acc please ?
Yes thank you a lot. it’s more than clear and it’s not boring at all.
Your video is great and fun to me . I really want to learn English from you .Thank you for your help
Thanks, I am getting more from this website.
Asif
James, I would like to ask you for giving some explanations about phrasal verbs in order to clear up the differences involving “out, on , in, off, etc” , as you did explaning “up” so properly.
Thanks in advance.
Best wishes! God bless you!
There are a lot more idioms of word hold. I.e. Hold someone hostage, hold someone’s attention, hold something against, hold out for, hold a grudge, etc
Thanks for your lesson of “Hold”
Hi James! i am so happy I have found your site. English is my hobby, but I am too old to join to any course neither is too expensive for me. Now I am not alone with my learning. I think there are a lot of mistakes. Please forgive me!
Thanks for your lessons!
dear James
I find a new Idiom:to get a hold of yourself.
It means to calm down or to relax before you react .
Thanks a lot best wishes
Hi James
Thank you for this video !
It is good sometimes to hold the candy to the devil.
Lo and be hold.
hold forth.
hihi James thxx god to knew this site they so helpful i love it all viedo =] i like when u teach it fun =]
indeed thank you so much
kassem
it’s very good… thank u
James thank, this class was very important. James you are very kind
Thanks James for this lesson, I think it was a good and very important for me, and what does means if I tell somebady Hold off or hold out?
Hi, I really liked the way you taught. It was very funny. Your teaching was excellent and i learned very important lessons today the uses of hold in idioms. It was really helpful to me. I believe i could improve my fluency n will be able to speak as fluent as others.Thanks a lot.
Hi, James.
You are one of most great teacher that a know.
Congratulation,
From Nicaragua
Hi! ohh really you are the best teacher that i see in my life, i just see two days, but i learned a lot so from yesterdar i will see forever/ thanks..
Hi James, Great Job.
One more question, which is grammatically correct like ,”
Sign in the back of your check please,
or
Please, Sign on the back of your check,
Thanks
James,
Great job.
Tks from Brazil.
I want to ask about hold my ground? It’s not change my position or my decision, is it?
i like the way you instruct …thanks
please teach us how to use logically, ironically, literally, technically, and basically in a sentence.
thanks a lot
amazing the way u taught its very interesting way f learning. I really want to learn english.
thanks alot bro. that was a great video i’ve ever seen
I love you jamessssssssssss thank’s alot
You’re awesome man … i’ll try to get a hold of you when i come to Canada and thank you in person ;)
your teaching is as smart as you. very good. I like your style of explanation
James rulezzzz!
u ar so cool!
Awesome!
Dear James
I’d like to thank you so much for this lesson,which is very helpful for me
Please I need your advice to get more Idioms!!!
looking foreword for your reply
God bless you
Hi,
great job james, you’re a very good teacher!
“I can stand my ground”
has the same meaning of
“I can hold my own” ?
thanks in advance !
thank you james ,,,you are amazing and clever to teach…
great job james.. thank you for sharing! God Bless!
Hi there . I really have some problems to learn a new worlds so if somebody knows simple thing that would help me ,i would be glad thinks a lot
Hello, James. I love your teaching style very much.
nice one thanks teacher!!
I like the expñanation, is my first time at this site. I will try learning more and more.
bye
hi James .Thanks for your efforts .I am studying from what you teach especially Idioms and vocab to enrich my english because I am in English department thank you
Hi James! Thank’s A Lot Very Good Leeson So Useful And So Clear to Understand!
U Are An Excellent Teacher!
You make learning idioms so easy. Thanks. I like your style of presenting your lessons.
good .!
Hi James!
Thanks for your wonderful lesson, I’ll hold my ground to learn from you :)))
Can we say (hold your horses with your students??)
Thank you
i like ur teaching style but u speak little fast and thnk for your wonderful lesson
your so cool..!
Thank u so much for your funny and benifficial lessons
I actually appreciate you
My regards
Tank you!
thank you JAMES ^0^
thanks a lot. you are amazing james (:
really very helpful
i love all of you Guys
Hi James, I have learned a lot from you! I really get out of the videos that you recorded about different lesson!
Thanks a lot
From Afghanistan
Hi james i really i appreciate your help man, watching your videos it makes me feel like I’m in the school i do watch them every single day ,I also would like to share this Idiom that we do say most of the time in USA , Chill out … it means cool down.
thnx from Azerbaijan
i like this video learning english because it can help me to improve my english skill when i study everytime.
Hold someone down = oppress, keep the job, support and protect. Please correct if I’m wrong… bye
tnx dude. that was clear as a bell..
James, I have been watching your lessons for the last week, and I think you are a gifted teacher. Bravo!
hold it right there, stop holding me back,holding hands.
i just like your way of teaching james that’s pretty interesting i hope i will an english teacher like you
it s very interresting think you
Hi James, your lessons are very fun and easy to follow your explanations. Thanks.
Hi James
There are many other idioms using the word “hold”.
Here they are:
-Hold cheap
-Hold good
-Hold hard!
-Take hold (Private universities take hold in Germany).
-leave one’s hold of smth. (Toryism is beginning to lose its hold on many of its former middle class supporters)
thanks for lesson.
You are a good actor, thanks from Spain
wow, I do love it. These idioms are so cool! And they help me in school on my English lessons. Thanks a lot!
Hi!!!
Do James your best teacher??
i hope you can have more videos to watch for idioms!
:)
hey James! thanks for the lecture, it helped a lot. please kindly give a lecture on “will and would” , where to use them? can we use would instead of “WILL”?
hold back- to not to do something, hold off- wait
Thanks alot form your helpful vedio and I hope to make many of the same vedio thanks again
Thanks. Great job. I learned a lot.
“Hold on” is for phone conversations or we can use it in different situation?
thanks
Hi James. Thanks for your wonderful way of teaching. I’m a teacher and an MA TEFL student. I’m doing my thesis on idioms.
Are these idioms the most frequently used ones in a native setting?Since I’m non-native it’s hard to recognize and select the most useful idioms.I haven’t find any frequency list for this purpose yet.
You were brilliant!!!!!!!!
Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!
hold court (to attract people who want your attention ) I have a bulk of English lesson so would you publish my lesson to your website
Hold court (to attract people who want your attention)
This is Rohtash Kumar English trainer so would u publish my lesson to ur site
great job love it from mexico come up with new vids
you are a great teacher
I’d to ask you a leson about Already when i can use it .
Hi James,how you are doing?
Iwanna ask u something
if someone says”hold the line” what do they mean?
Sincerly.
Hi James, u r great. Tell me please, what does it mean: “Here (there) we go” ?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
to all teacher.
Dear Mr. James,
Request for next lesson : different/when we use “Lot of” and “Many” ?
Thank you.
Best Regards.
hahahah D)) Mr. James, you’ve got shot.
thanks to all teachers and its was realy bombastic lesson!
I really aprreciate your fun and ever energetic lesson. Your video gives me a great time to improve my ENglish feeling cheerful as I watching it. Best wishes!! from Korea.
james. your lessons is fun. thanks.
james your way of teaching is amazing. can you help me regarding speech fluency.
wow….fantastic,,,i learn more on your lesson…thanks a lot.
helpful lesson ,very good job,,,
THANK YOU FOR THIS LESSON IT’S VERY HELPFUL TO ME
Thank you for your lessons. I like them a lot.
One more expression: “She doesn’t hold a candle to you” = She has so much less quality than you that the comparison can’t even be done. (But to tell the truth, I don’t see the connection with the candle!!!)
Its very interesting
Hold on to your hat!!!! Get ready, hold on tight, we’re in for a ride!
thanks sir james..your videos make me learn and laugh at the same time. cheers!!!
Thank you james, i reeally enjoy your f**king teaching way, ’cause you’re f**king good at it.
Hi,
Hold off…
Thanks
hey man.good job
Great lesson.
Thanks from Poland
Thank you for your lesson, sir james =)
That was very helpful =)
I like your videos,
thanks,
Hold your hand, hold your head up high, hold your hats…
Hold hold hold, he he he..
i really dont know what to say .
u are helping many people
thanx
hold your body it means to take your shirt
u r the best James!!!
I like your lessons
I learn a lot with you man
thanks
hey guys would you like to tell me the meaning of point out and figure out?
I am m. bux I like your idioms and your teaching. due to tese idoms my speaking power is very good thank you from pakistan
I am M. bux from pakistan like your idioms . thankyou
thank a lot all! teacher
you are very kind
you teach me without cost
I do love you idiom so much
so tnx,
take hold n hold hard mean what plz??
thanks james,,from dominican republic,,you are very clear, in all your lessons and not boring
Thank`s a lot sir.James realy your lessons are the best. Ant plase tell me how poseble learn English “fastly and avtomatikly” becouse I have got work whis forigne nationalety and olvase I have problem for tolking English.
I hold you resbonsplity
GREAT !
Jeams is the best teacher, pretty cleary and funny clases.
Thanks a lot.
thank you it’s really useful :)
wow I really love your lessons, i can understand everyhing clear :)
JAmes your lessons are very helpful…
Thanks from Azerbaijan..
Thanks James,your lessons are very interesting and helpful…..
Hi James thanks for a lessons, i like your lessons, thanks and waiting for new
Hi, james, great lesson, I hope remeber all in my next english test,specially listening skills.
it’s realy very nice thanks
That was an awesome way to convey the whole presentations with well chosen words or examples .
Thank you!
don’t thank, give your money
Speak your piece means “state your opinion or view.”
hold one’s breath = cease breathing temporarily
hold it! = calm down!
Dear teacher..
Could you explain ‘..easy to get hold of(f)’. Not sure about single or double ‘f’
You are great Teacher!
Hi James! I have heard this: “hold me” or “can I hold you?” is that mean to give a hug? I’m not sure about that. Thanks a lot
nice lesson
that’s awesome, thank u so much James:)
Thanks for your illustration. there is two idioms came out from the top of my head
1-to hold a grudge
2-to hold down the fort
Hi James it’s nice and you funny thanks
Customer orders a hamberger and he said:”hold tomato and onion” what is that means?
It means “don’t put tomato and onion on it”.
Thank you. You really make me understood.I like the way you teach
Thanks that was very good
thanks Mr I like your way of teaching
Hi,I think in many of your videos you are talking too fast,and we learners have difficulty to understand,please speak more slowly,anyway Thank you for your job!
Thanks James, these lessons are excellent….
thank you very much.You explained very well.I glad for you that you explain so good.
hi James,
Out of all the teachers, you have the greatest sense of humour, and your explanations are shagging great! Keep uploading vids mate:) I’ve just started watching them and enjoy them a lot!Warm greetings from Budapest, Hungary! Anett
Thank you James. You are a very good teacher.
Hello James! Your “w” letters on http://www.engWid.com domain name looks like a breast and buttocks :) Realy! And so sory my poor English.
Excellent T-shirt!
thanks a lot
Not always i understand the meaning in previous lessons but this time it was excellent, thank you James
thanks :)
good lesson ……..liked it.
good lesson!
thanks a lot
Thank you!
haahhahahahaha!!!! hold on! ahahahhaha!!! i´m Laughing!!! oh yeah! uuf!! you´re Sooo Funny man! haahhaha!!! good Video!
I love your style James :)
James u are the best teacher ever! I love the way u explain and I soooo much love ur humor sense! I love you so much and yeah I’ll never forget about STD :D (if u get what I mean) <3
James you are such a good teacher.Will you explain me.How to use pain-sore-hurt.Please reply me.www.davebrarmission@yahoo.ca. Or you can write me under which lesson I can find it.
Thanks for response.
thanks for the class i realy enjoy learning in this way
just great! thank you!
thanks so much
Thanks
i love you jams <3
thanks james :d u r great teacher. It was useful and also funny
you are so great! thanks
great as usual
thanks
the lesson was informative and funny :)
thank you! ;)
Hey james you are very confident with you are doing on videos.İt makes you productive also.Your lessons are very catchy but I have one little wish that your videos can be little longer 10 minutes it is not enough man, too short; but I m sure there is a reason for it though. Anyways I would spend my whole time by listen to you if there is more and longer video in this side, honestly.
Do your own web site also, like jamesvid.com:) is that okay for you ? I am not joking you are succesfull as much as the next guy with your body language and acting skills on tv programs. You can make more money:) and also more importantly, get help with much more people who wanst to learn english.
Big thanks, very helpful.
hi James,
thanks a lot. Please give a quiz…
don’t get the “hold your piece” one
I really like this video. Old on!!!
Thx james :) !
Hey James… Amazing video! Thank you so much…
I won’t hold my peace until I learn all these idioms…
Hello James, thanks a lot for this lesson and all of your works.
I need to talk with you Teacher:James as soon as possible
thank you very much
Thank you a lot James!Your lessons are great!And i loooveee your sense of humor…makes this much more interesting!
Hi James,
thank you so much, but I have one question, What is different between hold my own and hold my ground?
O, it’s very interesting.I can use one word(hold) in difference meaning.
Thanks for your lesson.
Hi James!
You are such a great teacher! I think you were born to teach :) I know it’s not easy and very nervous job.
Thank you so much, dear teacher!
Hi James. I’m really appreciating what you are doing here for foreign language students(which means for me at the same time), and i just wanted to say-probably you won’t but- if you need any turkish-english translation for anything, i can do my best with pleasure. Thanks for the lesson.
Very nice teacher, I have learned many things from your lesson
Hold on, Hold on, first of all the Batman t-shirt is awesome! Introducing myself as a fan/student Hi James ;-)
Thanks for this lesson.
Amazing!!! It helped me a lot.
thank you
Thank you so much, very useful.
Where is the quiz?
If anyone say, ‘Stop studying English!’, I’ll hold my ground. Thank you.
Oh, it’s very useful) Thank’s a lot))
A lot of meanings the word “hold” has, but it’s easy to remember them when you listen a teacher explaining each case or form, more than read them beacause some time it’s boring to read a lot. Thanks.
Thanks !
Any Quiz?
thank you so much the lesson war so good
Your pronunciation is good
Thank you
can you PLS make a video about SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
THANK YOU
So cool, thanks James!
thanks!
wooowwww goood….. I like it
That was an excellent lesson !
Thanks James
Hi James, i learn a lot with your videos. Thankyou. I like your style :)
So great
Hello James,
How can I contact you? Please help me! I have many questions for you
hey james ! i’m so pleasure to watch somebody like you and after watching you r videos i’m holding my own to be perfect in speaking English and nobody say to me hold your peace because i speak wrong .hold me on 1 month and i will be fluent in English
Thank you for all videos im from Poland and i want to develop my language skills so you are the best teacher for me <3
thank you so much your the best teacher i have ever known
Thank you mr James! This idiom lecture is useful and funny I enjoy it