hold back

British  

verb

1. to restrain or be restrained

2. (tr) to withhold

   he held back part of the payment

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noun

1. a strap of the harness joining the breeching to the shaft, so that the horse can hold back the vehicle

2. something that restrains or hinders

hold back Idioms  

1. Also, keep back.

2. Retain in one's possession or control, as in He held back vital information , or I managed to keep back my tears . [First half of 1500s]

3. Restrain one-self, as in She held back from joining the others , or I wanted to denounce him right there, but I kept back for fear of making a scene . The first usage dates from the second half of the 1500s, the variant from the early 1800s.

4. Impede the progress of, as in The barriers held back traffic during the funeral procession , or Her daughter was kept back and had to repeat first grade .

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Example Sentences

In December, it overhauled its nuclear sector to allow for private investment and rolled back a liability law that had held back U.S. firms from pursuing nuclear energy deals in the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Saks has also struggled to pay vendors, some of which have held back shipments and left the retailer with less merchandise to sell.

From The Wall Street Journal

So far, automakers like Nissan have held back on raising prices, absorbing the hit through lower profits.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a result, one population may benefit from environmental shifts while another is held back by them.

From Science Daily

According to Charlene Chu, senior analyst at Autonomous Research, they are holding back because of weak demand, the result of tariffs and supply-chain shifts, while deflationary pressure has dented their profit margins in recent years.

From Barron's