hold on to — cling to beliefs
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to continue believing or supporting an idea, belief, or attitude very strongly, especially when it is difficult to do so or when others disagree.
Say it like a native
Textbook She continued to firmly maintain her optimistic outlook.
Native She held on to the hope that things would improve.
'Hold on to (hope/belief)' is the natural figurative phrase. The formal version is stiff.
Pattern: hold on to + belief/principle/idea/hope
In use
- Despite all the criticism, she held on to her principles and refused to compromise.beliefs
- Many people hold on to traditional values, even as society becomes more modern and open-minded.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He holds on his beliefs strongly.
✓ He holds on to his beliefs.
Needs 'to' — 'hold on TO a belief'.
Common collocations
hold on to + belief— hope, your dreams, the belief that, faith
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense, which is about physically or practically keeping an object, this sense is figurative and refers to maintaining beliefs, attitudes, or hopes, often despite challenges.
Related
- hold on to (keep something and not give or sell it to anyone else) — 'hold on to' also has the more basic meaning 'keep something and not give or sell it to anyone else'; this is the advanced sense.