What is another word for hold back ?

prevent from making progress

To impede the work or progress of

balk^US

baulk^UK

throw a spanner in the works

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

bring to a standstill

bring to screeching halt

throw a spoke in the wheel of

place at a disadvantage

defend oneself against

put at a disadvantage

throw monkey wrench in

cramp someone's style

put out of commission

queer someone's pitch

throw a monkey wrench into

beat someone to the draw

commandeer

be early

beat someone to the punch

give a disadvantage to

treat harshly

be unfair to

put in an unfavourable position

treat unfavourably

tell against

wrong

inflict a handicap on

put a spoke in someone's wheel

economize^US

economise^UK

throw a monkey wrench in the works

not allow to go beyond

keep within the limits of

destabilize^US

take wind out of sails

demoralize^US

ostracize^US

make it impossible for

make it impracticable for

demoralise^UK

destabilise^UK

take the wind out of your sails

ostracise^UK

rain on someone's parade

kick the can down the road

employ delaying tactics

put on the back burner

act like a wet blanket

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“I wouldn't hold him back from achieving his career goals, and he wouldn't want to be my emotional crutch when things went wrong.”

Verb

keep feeling inside oneself

To (attempt to) repress or suppress showing or expressing something

harbor^US

harbour^UK

internalise^UK

internalize^US

sweep under the carpet

tranquilize^US

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“I bowed my head trying to hold back tears.”

Verb

To refrain from saying or doing something

avoid doing something

resist the temptation to

have nothing to do with

give something a miss

axe^UK

ax^US

restrain oneself from

let well enough alone

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“She decided not to hold back from speaking her mind in front of her husband and his mother.”

Verb

keep from doing something

To delay action until a particular time or event

avoid doing something

play a waiting game

play the waiting game

stop what you're doing

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Verb

retain in one's possession

To preserve (something) by not expending or using it

put aside for a rainy day

rack up

put by for a rainy day

run up

round up

buy up

put away for a rainy day

economize^US

economise^UK

put aside for rainy day

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Verb

To postpone from being dealt with

put on the back burner

put off the evil hour

temporise^UK

temporize^US

put something off

rise

put on one side

leave to another time

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Verb

kick the can down the road

To delay a situation until one is prepared

temporise^UK

temporize^US

put on the back burner

let the grass grow under one's feet

put off doing something

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Verb

To abstain or remain apart by choice, as in not participating, hiking, leaning out, or opting out

give something a miss

avoid doing something

have nothing to do with

discontinue

resist the temptation to

restrain oneself from

let well enough alone

refuse to take advantage of

send one's regrets

look down one's nose at

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Verb

To avoid proceeding through reluctance

Verb

brush something under the carpet

To hold back or play down the severity of what one is communicating

minimise^UK

minimize^US

trivialize^US

trivialise^UK

rationalize^US

rationalise^UK

set too little store by

attach little importance to

give little weight to

put on the soft pedal

criticize^US

criticise^UK

marginalize^US

marginalise^UK

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Verb

spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar

To be very economical or mean about spending or providing something

spare

economise^UK

economize^US

husband your resources

cut your coat according to your cloth

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Verb

To remove or take away (something) from (someone)

Verb

give someone the brush-off

To show an unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

give something a miss

give the thumbs down to

have nothing to do with

give a wide berth to

sit out

give the cold shoulder

axe^UK

ax^US

restrain oneself from

freeze out

leave out

prevent oneself from

give someone the go-by

look right through someone

tell someone where to get off

not take advantage of

refuse to take advantage of

say ‘no’ to

yield

desert

look down one's nose at

fail to take advantage of

ostracize^US

ostracise^UK

keep one's distance from

baulk^UK

balk^US

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Verb

be unable to make up your mind

To hesitate or be undecisive in accepting an idea or undertaking

baulk^UK

balk^US

temporize^US

temporise^UK

fence-straddle

keep changing your mind

let the grass grow under one's feet

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Verb