hold back

retenir, freiner

Empêcher quelqu'un ou quelque chose d'avancer ou de progresser.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : 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.)

Synonymes : restrain, stop, hinder

Contraires : release

Expressions courantes : hold back water, hold someone back

se retenir, se contenir

Se limiter pour ne pas employer toute sa force ou exprimer tout ce qu'on ressent.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : hold back from doing something (She held back from telling him what she really thought.)

Synonymes : restrain yourself

Expressions courantes : hold back slightly, hold back from something

retenir, contenir

Maintenir quelque chose en place pour l’empêcher d’avancer.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : hold back something (The barrier holds back the floodwater.)

Synonymes : restrain, contain, stop

Contraires : release

Expressions courantes : hold back water, hold something back

taire, garder pour soi, se retenir

S'empêcher de dire ou de faire quelque chose, notamment pour garder une information secrète.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : hold back something (She held back some important details.); hold back from doing something (I held back from mentioning his mistake.)

Synonymes : withhold, keep to yourself

Contraires : reveal

Expressions courantes : hold back information, hold something back

faire redoubler

Faire refaire à un élève la même année scolaire au lieu de le laisser passer dans la classe suivante.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : 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.)

Synonymes : keep back

Contraires : promote

Expressions courantes : hold someone back, hold back students