hold the line

Idioms  

1. Maintain the existing position or state of affairs. For example, We'll have to hold the line on spending until our profits rise. This term alludes to former military tactics, in which a line of troops was supposed to prevent an enemy breakthrough. Eventually, it was transferred to civilian enterprises. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hold the line

Speaking at the end of the two-day summit in Brussels attended by Zelensky, Macron said it was Europe's job to hold the line in the face of some people's "ambiguities".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

This follows a strategic decision to kill off traditional sedans and hold the line on profits rather than chase volume, which is making the company more money and winning over Wall Street.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The court’s mini “Cuba docket” offers us unexpected insights about Justice Elena Kagan, the only justice to hold the line on both cases, including her first-ever solo dissent in her 16 years on the bench.

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026

Regional theaters such as Seattle Rep, the Guthrie, the Goodman and Baltimore Center Stage remained committed to their missions while New York nonprofit companies continued to hold the line off-Broadway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Pete kept on him, talking so gently and sweetly that he seemed all the more furious in his discipline, and I thought he had to be murdering himself inside to hold the line like that.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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