hold out for — wait until you get what you want
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutraloccasional
To refuse to accept less than what you want, and keep waiting until you get it.
Say it like a native
Textbook She declined all offers in anticipation of a superior one.
Native She's holding out for a better offer.
'Hold out for' captures 'refuse and wait for something better'; the paraphrase is wordy.
Pattern: hold out for + noun/gerund
In use
- She decided to hold out for a better job offer instead of accepting the first one.daily life
- In my opinion, it's sometimes wise to hold out for the right opportunity rather than rushing into a decision.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He's holding out a higher salary.
✓ He's holding out for a higher salary.
Don't drop 'for' — 'hold out FOR what you want'.
Common collocations
hold out for— for, a better deal, more money, the right one
Don't confuse it
'Hold out for' is stronger than just 'wait for'—it means you are rejecting other offers or options until you get your preferred one.