Fromhold andout.
holdout (third-person singular simple presentholds out,present participleholding out,simple past and past participleheld out)
- (transitive, literally) Tohold (something)out; toextend (something) forward.
Heheld out his hand, and I grabbed it.
1881–1882,Robert Louis Stevenson,Treasure Island, London; Paris:Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883,→OCLC:Iheld out my hand, and the horrible, soft-spoken, eyeless creature gripped it in a moment like a vise. I was so much startled that I struggled to withdraw; but the blind man pulled me close up to him with a single action of his arm.
- (figuratively) Tooffer,present (a hope, possibility, opportunity etc.)
The prospectusheld out the promise of enormous profits to be made.
- (idiomatic, often withfor) Towait, orrefuse in hopes of getting something better (from a negotiation, etc.)
I amholding out for more money.
How long has he beenholding out?
- (idiomatic) To survive,endure.
How long can theyhold out without water?
2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegro”, inBBC[1]:Stevan Jovetic gave Montenegro hope when he unleashed a pile-driver but Walesheld out for a much-needed win.
2023 October 28, Leighton Koopman, “YES!!! The Springboks beat the All Blacks to win another Rugby World Cup title”, inIndependent Online[2]:For the third game in a row, the Boksheld out with just one point after seeing off France and England in the quarters and semis respectively.
- (idiomatic, usually withon) Towithhold something.
You've got a key! Why have you beenholding out on me?
- (transitive) Toset aside something or save it for later.
Pack the boxes, buthold out a few blue ones for later.
hold (something) out, extend it forward
to wait for something better
to save something for later
Translations to be checked: "to hold"
holdout (pluralhold outs)
- Alternative spelling ofholdout.
