hold back

retener, frenar

Impedir que alguien o algo avance o progrese.

En inglés sencillo: To stop someone or something from moving forward or making progress.

• The wall holds back the water.
• Police held the crowd back.
• Poor transport links are holding back the town’s development.

Cómo se usa: hold someone/something back (A lack of money held the project back.); hold someone back from doing something (Fear held him back from applying for the job.)

Sinónimos: restrain, stop, hinder

Antónimos: release

Expresiones frecuentes: hold back water, hold someone back

contenerse, reprimirse

No usar toda tu fuerza o no expresar todo lo que sientes.

En inglés sencillo: To avoid using all your strength or expressing everything you feel.

• Do not hold back.
• He held back during the practice fight.
• Why are you holding back when we need your best effort?

Cómo se usa: hold back from doing something (She held back from telling him what she really thought.)

Sinónimos: restrain yourself

Expresiones frecuentes: hold back slightly, hold back from something

retener, contener

Mantener algo en su sitio e impedir que avance.

En inglés sencillo: To keep something in place and prevent it from moving forward.

• The dam holds back water.
• A low wall held back the soil.
• Can this gate hold back the rising river?

Cómo se usa: hold back something (The barrier holds back the floodwater.)

Sinónimos: restrain, contain, stop

Antónimos: release

Expresiones frecuentes: hold back water, hold something back

ocultar, reservarse, contenerse

Evitar decir o hacer algo, especialmente para mantener una información en secreto.

En inglés sencillo: To stop yourself from saying or doing something, especially to keep information secret.

• Do not hold back the truth.
• He held back his worries for months.
• Is she holding back information about the accident?

Cómo se usa: hold back something (She held back some important details.); hold back from doing something (I held back from mentioning his mistake.)

Sinónimos: withhold, keep to yourself

Antónimos: reveal

Expresiones frecuentes: hold back information, hold something back

hacer repetir curso

Hacer que un alumno curse otra vez el mismo año escolar en vez de pasar al siguiente.

En inglés sencillo: To make a student repeat a school year instead of moving to the next class.

• The school held him back.
• She was held back because she missed many lessons.
• Will they hold your son back a year?

Cómo se usa: hold someone back a year (The school held him back a year.); be held back in a grade (She was held back in second grade.)

Sinónimos: keep back

Antónimos: promote

Expresiones frecuentes: hold someone back, hold back students