1.
If you ~ a job or a place in a team, you manage to keep it.
He never could ~ a job...
Constant injury problems had made it tough for him to ~ a regular first team place.
PHRASAL VERB: oft with brd-neg, V P n (not pron), V P n (not pron), also V n P
2.
If you hold someone down, you keep them under control and do not allow them to have much freedom or power or many rights.
Everyone thinks there is some vast conspiracy wanting to ~ the younger generation.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)