hold back

trattenere, frenare

Impedire a qualcuno o qualcosa di avanzare o fare progressi.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si 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.)

Sinonimi: restrain, stop, hinder

Contrari: release

Espressioni comuni: hold back water, hold someone back

trattenersi, contenersi

Limitarsi, senza usare tutta la propria forza o esprimere tutto ciò che si prova.

In inglese semplice: 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?

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

Sinonimi: restrain yourself

Espressioni comuni: hold back slightly, hold back from something

trattenere, contenere

Tenere qualcosa fermo e impedirgli di avanzare.

In inglese semplice: 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?

Come si usa: hold back something (The barrier holds back the floodwater.)

Sinonimi: restrain, contain, stop

Contrari: release

Espressioni comuni: hold back water, hold something back

tacere, tenere per sé, trattenersi

Evitare di dire o fare qualcosa, soprattutto per mantenere segreta un'informazione.

In inglese semplice: 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?

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

Sinonimi: withhold, keep to yourself

Contrari: reveal

Espressioni comuni: hold back information, hold something back

far ripetere l’anno

Far frequentare di nuovo lo stesso anno scolastico a un alunno invece di farlo passare al successivo.

In inglese semplice: 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?

Come si 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.)

Sinonimi: keep back

Contrari: promote

Espressioni comuni: hold someone back, hold back students