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hold the line

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Idioms and Phrases

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

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The U.S. would fall deeper into a two-tier healthcare landscape, with conservative states cutting healthcare services and blue states trying to hold the line for their residents.

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"I hold the line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Try me."

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The fine is the largest issued to a university and is likely to be seen as an intention to hold the line over the expression of legal views.

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Polling shows Trump retains broad support among Republicans, and even some Democrats have decided to stay quiet or move toward the center rather than hold the line.

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And not only did the Ukrainians hold the line, they’ve been systematically wrecking the Russian military.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

hold the fort hold the phone

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