hold the line

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]

Example Sentences

Firefighters hold the line in the Sierra, protecting communities and a giant sequoia grove amid a day of ‘dynamic fire activity’ from the Garnet fire.

From Los Angeles Times

The appointee of former President Barack Obama called on her fellow judges to hold the line on campus speech protections.

From Salon

With the beach underwater, the seawalls destroyed and so many homes surrendered, the pressure is now on Highway 1 to hold the line between land and sea.

From Los Angeles Times

“Negotiations were conducted in good faith, with both sides working hard to reach a fair deal that supports our teammates and holds the line on prices for our customers,” Stater Bros. said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Or as Gov. Gavin Newsom put it, it’s litigation not for the sake of suing, but to “defend, to stand tall, to hold the line in terms of our values, the things we hold dear.”

From Los Angeles Times