hold down — keep a job
phrasal verbB2IELTS 5.5+neutraloccasional
to manage to keep a job for a period of time, especially when it is difficult or challenging.
Say it like a native
Textbook He struggled to maintain stable employment.
Native He couldn't hold down a job.
'Hold down a job' is the set phrase. 'Maintain stable employment' is HR-speak.
Pattern: hold down + (a/the) job
In use
- It's impressive that she can hold down two jobs while studying full-time.work
- In my opinion, it's not easy to hold down a job and study at the same time, but many students have to do it to support themselves.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She holds down with two jobs.
✓ She holds down two jobs.
'Hold down + job' directly — no 'with'.
Common collocations
hold down + a job— a job, a steady job, two jobs, full-time work
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'hold a job', which simply means to have a job. 'Hold down' suggests effort or difficulty.