- hold back
- 1)
if you feel like singing, don't hold back
Syn:hesitate, pause, stop oneself, restrain oneself, desist, forbear2)Jane held back her tears
Syn:suppress, fight back, choke back, stifle, smother, subdue, rein in, repress, curb, control, keep a tight rein on; informal keep a lid on3)don't hold anything back from me
Syn:withhold, hide, conceal, keep secret, keep hidden, keep quiet about, keep to oneself, hush up; informal sit on, keep under one's hat4)you'll never make it in music if you keep letting your parents hold you back
Syn:hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct, inhibit, hobble, check, curb, block, thwart, balk, hamstring, restrain, frustrate, stand in someone's way
Thesaurus of popular words. 2014.