hold it together
Synonym of cope: to remain calm in adversity, to successfully manage one's difficulties.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“It is hard to hold it together when you are stressed.”
“She took a deep breath to hold it together while the manager criticized her work in front of the team.”
“Despite the sudden collapse of his business, he managed to hold it together long enough to ensure his employees received their final paychecks.”
A variant of the earlier phrase hold together, first recorded as a distinct phrasal form in the late 19th century.
- 01
apron-string hold
An estate held by a man during his wife's life.
- 02
band together
to unite, to come together
- 03
bang some heads together
Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.
- 04
birds of a feather flock together
People of similar character, background or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another; it is easier to establish friendships with people that one has a lot in common with.
- 05
bring together
To cause people to do something together; to bring about togetherness.
- 06
buy and hold
A passive investment strategy where an investor purchases an asset and retains it for many years, rather than trading it frequently.
- 07
don't hold your breath
Don't wait. Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned is unlikely to happen soon or at all.
- 08
get one's act together
To become serious, organized, worthwhile, etc.
Last updated August 10, 2026