- hold back
- 1) (to refuse to tell someone (something): The police were convinced the man was holding something back.) esconder, guardarse algo, ocultar2) (to prevent from happening, being seen etc, with an effort: The little girl succeeded in holding back her tears.) retener, contener(se), reprimir(se)3) (to prevent from making progress: I meant to finish cleaning the house but the children have held me back all morning.) refrenar, impedirhold backv.• atrasar v.• detener v.(§pres: -tengo, -tienes...-tenemos) pret: -tuv-fut/c: -tendr-•)• frenar v.1) v + o + adv, v + adv + oa) (restrain) \<\<crowds/water/tears\>\> contener*b) (withhold, delay) \<\<information\>\> no revelar; \<\<payment\>\> retrasar
he's holding something back from me — me está ocultando algo
2) v + adv (restrain oneself) contenerse*, frenarseshe held back from telling them — se contuvo y no les dijo nada
1.VT + ADV (=keep) guardar, retener; (=stop) [+ river, flood] retener; [+ progress] refrenar; [+ information] ocultar, no revelar; [+ names] no comunicar; [+ emotion, tears] reprimir, contenerare you holding sth back from me? — ¿me estás ocultando algo?
to hold o.s. back from doing sth — refrenarse de hacer algo
2.VI + ADV refrenarse; (in doubt) vacilarto hold back from — refrenarse de
to hold back from doing sth — refrenarse de hacer algo
* * *1) v + o + adv, v + adv + oa) (restrain) \<\<crowds/water/tears\>\> contener*b) (withhold, delay) \<\<information\>\> no revelar; \<\<payment\>\> retrasarhe's holding something back from me — me está ocultando algo
2) v + adv (restrain oneself) contenerse*, frenarseshe held back from telling them — se contuvo y no les dijo nada
English-spanish dictionary. 2013.
