What does "hold back" mean?

To restrain or prevent from advancing To stop yourself or others from doing something.

How do you use "hold back" in a sentence?

I had to hold back tears. Don't hold back, tell me everything. The police held back the crowd.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: To restrain or prevent from advancing

抑制、阻止

Contener, reprimir, retener

抑える、引き止める

억누르다, 막다

To stop yourself or others from doing something.

阻止自己或他人做某事。

Impedir que tú u otros hagáis algo.

自分や他人が何かをするのを止めること。

자신이나 다른 사람이 무언가를 하지 못하도록 막는 것.

Base verb: hold

Particle: back

Separable: Yes — the object can go between the verb and particle

I had to hold back tears.
我不得不忍住眼泪
Tuve que contener las lágrimas
涙を抑えなければならなかった
눈물을 참아야 했다.
Don't hold back, tell me everything.
别藏着掖着，全告诉我
No te cortes, cuéntamelo todo
遠慮しないで、全部話して
망설이지 말고 다 말해줘.
The police held back the crowd.
警察阻止了人群
La policía contuvo a la multitud
警察は群衆を押しとどめた
경찰이 군중을 막았다.

Context: restraint, emotions

Tone: controlled

From holding something in place.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal