Meaning trap

hold down

suppress forcibly

to prevent something such as opposition, emotion, or unrest from developing or being expressed, often by using force, authority, or pressure.

phrasal verbC2rare

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

suppress forcibly

to prevent something such as opposition, emotion, or unrest from developing or being expressed, often by using force, authority, or pressure.

hold down (keep a job)

'hold down' also has the more basic meaning 'keep a job'; this is the advanced sense.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

The government tried to hold down dissent by restricting access to social media.politics
Some argue that attempts to hold down public anger can ultimately lead to greater unrest in the long term.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: hold down + noun (abstract: dissent, protest, anger, etc.)

WrongThey held down on the rebellion.

RightThey held down the rebellion.

'Hold down + thing' directly — no 'on'.

Patternhold down + noun (abstract: dissent, protest, anger, etc.)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The regime suppressed all forms of dissent by force.

Natural The regime held down any opposition.

'Hold down' naturally means keep something forcibly suppressed. The formal version is more journalistic.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

hold down
oppositionunrestdissentcosts

Don't confuse it

This sense is figurative and abstract, unlike the B2 sense of 'hold down' meaning 'keep a job.' Here, it refers to suppressing something (like dissent or emotion), not maintaining employment.

hold down (keep a job) — 'hold down' also has the more basic meaning 'keep a job'; this is the advanced sense.

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