What does "hold back" mean?

To restrain emotions To prevent yourself from expressing feelings.

How do you use "hold back" in a sentence?

I held back tears. She couldn't hold back any longer. He held back his anger.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: To restrain emotions

克制，忍住

Contener, reprimir

抑える、こらえる

억누르다, 참다

To prevent yourself from expressing feelings.

阻止自己表达感情。忍住想哭的冲动或控制愤怒等情绪。

Evitar expresar los sentimientos. Aguantar las ganas de llorar o controlar la ira.

感情を表に出さないように抑えること。泣きたい時に涙をこらえたり、怒りを抑えたりすること。

감정을 표현하지 않도록 스스로를 억제하다.

Base verb: hold

Particle: back

Separable: Yes — the object can go between the verb and particle

I held back tears.
我忍住了眼泪
Contuve las lágrimas
私は涙をこらえた
나는 눈물을 참았다.
She couldn't hold back any longer.
她再也忍不住了
Ya no pudo contenerse más
彼女はもう抑えられなかった
그녀는 더 이상 참을 수 없었다.
He held back his anger.
他克制住了愤怒
Contuvo su enfado
彼は怒りを抑えた
그는 분노를 억눌렀다.

Context: restraint, control, tears

Tone: controlled

From holding something back.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal