# hold it together

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hold-it-together
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of cope: to remain calm in adversity, to successfully manage one's difficulties.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

A variant of the earlier phrase hold together, first recorded as a distinct phrasal form in the late 19th century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.