hold back phrasal verb ( see also ↑ hold )
1 . hold somebody/something ↔ back to make someone or something stop moving forward:
Police in riot gear held back the demonstrators.
2 . hold something ↔ back to stop yourself from feeling or showing a particular emotion:
She struggled to hold back her tears.
Anger flooded through her. She couldn’t hold it back.
3 . hold somebody/something ↔ back to prevent someone or something from making progress:
They felt the British economy was being held back by excessive government controls.
4 . hold (somebody) back to be unwilling to do something, especially because you are being careful, or to make someone unwilling to do something:
In the current situation many investors are holding back.
She wanted to tell him but pride held her back.
5 . hold something ↔ back to keep something secret:
Tell me all about it – don’t hold anything back!