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hold out
verb
(tr) to offer or present
(intr) to last or endure
(intr) to continue to resist or stand firm, as a city under siege or a person refusing to succumb to persuasion
to withhold (something due or expected)
to wait patiently or uncompromisingly for (the fulfilment of one's demands)
informalto delay in or keep from telling (a person) some new or important information
noun
a person, country, organization, etc, that continues to resist or refuses to change
Honecker was one of the staunchest holdouts against reform
a person, country, organization, etc, that declines to cooperate or participate
they remain the only holdouts to signing the accord
Idioms and Phrases
Extend, stretch forth; also, present or offer something. For example, He held out his hand and she took it , or The new policy held out promise of major changes in the welfare program . These usages date from the first half of the 1500s and of the 1600s respectively.
Last, continue to be in supply or service, as in The food is holding out nicely . [Late 1500s] Also see hold up , def. 4.
Continue to resist, as in The garrison held out for another month . [Second half of 1700s]
Withhold cooperation, agreement, or information, as in We've asked for a better deal, but they've been holding out for months . It is also put as hold out on , as in They were still holding out on some of the provisions , or He's not telling us what happened; he's holding out on us .
hold out for . Insist on obtaining, as in The union is still holding out for a better contract . [c. 1900]
Example Sentences
He followed that up with a shorter post, noting that the 60-day deadline he had given the Iranians for a deal had expired - but still holding out hope.
Walliams reportedly joined in with increasingly vigorous waves, which culminated in him holding out his arm in a Nazi salute.
Housing and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner reached a settlement with the Treasury on Sunday evening, the BBC has learned, but Cooper is holding out, with police funding one of the contentious issues.
While Bath's forwards were held out as they drove forward from a line-out, Bristol could not stop Muir scoring their third try in 14 minutes as they switched the direction of play.
Other former employees also hold out for a phoenix rising from the ashes.
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