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Phrasal verbs "fight back" vs "hold back"

Differences between fight back and hold back

Fight back means to resist an attack or an opponent, while hold back means to restrain oneself from doing something or to prevent something from happening.

Meanings and Definitions: fight back vs hold back

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Fight back

  • 1Defend yourself, resist an attack.

    The army attacked the town and the inhabitants FOUGHT BACK fiercely.

  • 2Try to control and emotion and keep it hidden.

    He tried to FIGHT BACK the tears when he heard the news of her death.

Hold back

  • 1Not show emotion.

    It was really hard to HOLD BACK the tears.

  • 2Prevent something moving forwards or progressing.

    Lack of funding HELD the project BACK.

  • 3Not disclose information or make it public.

    The government HELD BACK the findings of the report for fear of alienating voters.

Usage Examples: fight back, hold back in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

fight back

Example

When the bully tried to take his lunch, he decided to fight back.

Example

She fights back whenever someone tries to take advantage of her.

hold back

Example

She tried to hold back her tears during the sad movie.

Example

He holds back his anger when dealing with difficult customers.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Fight back

stand up for oneself

To defend oneself or one's rights against an attack or injustice.

Example

She decided to stand up for herself and fight back against the bullying she was experiencing.

push back

To resist or oppose something or someone forcefully.

Example

The workers decided to push back against the company's unfair policies by going on strike.

hit back

To retaliate or respond to an attack or criticism with force or aggression.

Example

He hit back at the opponent's insults with a scathing remark of his own.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hold back

restrain oneself

To control or limit one's emotions, actions, or words.

Example

She had to restrain herself from yelling at her boss during the meeting.

keep in check

To control or limit something to prevent it from becoming excessive or harmful.

Example

He had to keep his temper in check during the argument to avoid escalating the situation.

refrain from

To avoid or abstain from doing something.

Example

She decided to refrain from eating junk food to maintain a healthy diet.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “fight”

Phrasal Verbs with “hold”

Differences in fight back vs hold back: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: fight back or hold back?

Both fight back and hold back are commonly used in everyday conversations. However, hold back is more versatile and can be used in various contexts, whereas fight back is mainly used in situations where there is a physical or emotional attack.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of fight back and hold back

Hold back is more formal than fight back. It is often used in professional settings such as business meetings or academic presentations. Fight back is more informal and is commonly used in casual conversations.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of fight back and hold back

The tone of fight back is usually defensive or aggressive, while the tone of hold back is more restrained or cautious.

fight back & hold back: Synonyms and Antonyms

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