Phrasal verb
hold on to
Definition
phrasal verb. to keep something in your hand or keep it for yourself instead of giving it away.
phrasal verb. to maintain a physical grip on an object or to retain possession of something rather than selling or discarding it.
Examples
“Hold on to the railing so you don't fall.”
“You should hold on to those old records because they might be worth a lot of money one day.”
“Despite the economic downturn, the investors decided to hold on to their shares in the hope of a market recovery.”
Examples
simple
“Hold on to the railing so you don't fall.”
contextual
“You should hold on to those old records because they might be worth a lot of money one day.”
complex
“Despite the economic downturn, the investors decided to hold on to their shares in the hope of a market recovery.”
Usage
usually followed by a physical object or an abstract possession like an idea or a memory.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'keep' (more general) and 'cling to' (implies a desperate or emotional need to keep something); 'hold on to' is the standard phrasal verb for physical and literal retention.
Pitfall
He held on his hat in the wind.
He held on to his hat in the wind.
the preposition 'to' is essential to connect the action to the object being held.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hold + on + to + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hold-on-to