Phrasal verb
hold back from
Definition
phrasal verb. to stop yourself from doing or saying something that you want to do.
phrasal verb. to exercise self-restraint or hesitation in performing an action; often implies a conscious decision to refrain due to fear, politeness, or uncertainty.
Examples
“I wanted to shout, but I held back from saying anything.”
“She held back from buying the expensive dress because she knew she had to save money for rent.”
“Despite his intense frustration with the committee's decision, the director held back from criticizing his colleagues in the public forum.”
Examples
simple
“I wanted to shout, but I held back from saying anything.”
contextual
“She held back from buying the expensive dress because she knew she had to save money for rent.”
complex
“Despite his intense frustration with the committee's decision, the director held back from criticizing his colleagues in the public forum.”
Usage
usually followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun phrase.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'refrain from' (more formal) and 'hesitate' (focuses on the delay rather than the restraint); emphasize that 'from' is necessary when an action follows.
Pitfall
He held back from to tell the truth.
He held back from telling the truth.
the preposition 'from' must be followed by a gerund (-ing) rather than an infinitive.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back from
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hold + back + from + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hold-back-from