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Definition of hold down phrasal verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hold down

phrasal verb
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hold somebody down
  1. to prevent somebody from moving, using force
    • It took three men to hold him down.
  2. to prevent somebody from having their freedom or rights
    • The people are held down by a repressive regime.
hold something down
  1. to keep something at a low level
    • The rate of inflation must be held down.
  2. [no passive] to keep a job for some time
    • He was unable to hold down a job after his breakdown.
  3. [no passive] (North American English, informal) to limit something, especially a noise
    • Hold it down, will you? I'm trying to sleep!
See hold down in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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trait
noun
 
 
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