hold down

Meaning

1. 1

   hold sb down

   to prevent sb from moving, using force

   It took three men to hold him down.

2. 2

   hold sb down

   to prevent sb from having their freedom or rights

   The people are held down by a repressive regime.

3. 3

   hold sth down

   to keep sth at a low level

   The rate of inflation must be held down.

4. 4

   hold sth down

   to keep a job for some time

   He was unable to hold down a job after his breakdown.

5. 5

   hold sth downinformalAmerican

   to limit sth, especially a noise

   Hold it down, will you? I'm trying to sleep!

In the movies · 57

• Hold. Down low!Gladiator2000
• Many people hold down several jobs.Hot Fuzz2007
• Hold him down!Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire2005
• Hold him down!Fractured2019
• And my mother could never hold down a job.Match Point2005
• Hold him down.The Maze Runner2014
• hold me downBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever2022
• -Hold him down.The Witches2020

From the same entry

• hold good
• hold it
• there is no holding
• hold against
• hold back
• hold back
• hold back
• hold forth
• hold in
• hold off
• hold off
• hold on