What is another word for hold back ?

prevent from making progress

To impede the work or progress of

balk^US

baulk^UK

throw a spanner in the works

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

bring to a standstill

bring to screeching halt

throw a spoke in the wheel of

place at a disadvantage

defend oneself against

put at a disadvantage

throw monkey wrench in

cramp someone's style

queer someone's pitch

put out of commission

throw a monkey wrench into

give a disadvantage to

treat harshly

be unfair to

put in an unfavourable position

treat unfavourably

tell against

wrong

inflict a handicap on

beat someone to the draw

commandeer

be early

beat someone to the punch

put a spoke in someone's wheel

act like a wet blanket

economize^US

economise^UK

put on the back burner

throw a monkey wrench in the works

ostracize^US

make it impossible for

make it impracticable for

keep within the limits of

ostracise^UK

take wind out of sails

cause setback

not allow to go beyond

gaol^UK

jail^US

immobilize^US

immobilise^UK

monopolize^US

monopolise^UK

bring someone to their knees

take the wind out of your sails

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“I wouldn't hold him back from achieving his career goals, and he wouldn't want to be my emotional crutch when things went wrong.”

Verb

keep feeling inside oneself

To (attempt to) repress or suppress showing or expressing something

harbor^US

harbour^UK

internalise^UK

internalize^US

sweep under the carpet

tranquilize^US

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“I bowed my head trying to hold back tears.”

Verb

refuse to take advantage of

To refrain from saying or doing something

resist the temptation to

avoid doing something

have nothing to do with

restrain oneself from

give something a miss

look down one's nose at

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“She decided not to hold back from speaking her mind in front of her husband and his mother.”

Verb

To delay a situation until one is prepared

kick the can down the road

put on the back burner

let the grass grow under one's feet

put off doing something

balk^US

baulk^UK

avoid committing oneself

use Fabian tactics

stall for time

avoid making a decision

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Verb

keep from doing something

To delay action until a particular time or event

avoid doing something

play a waiting game

play the waiting game

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Verb

retain in one's possession

To preserve (something) by not expending or using it

put aside for a rainy day

rack up

put by for a rainy day

run up

round up

buy up

put away for a rainy day

economize^US

economise^UK

put aside for rainy day

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Verb

To postpone from being dealt with

put on the back burner

put off the evil hour

put out of commission

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Verb

spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar

Be very economical or mean about spending or providing something

stint

limit

begrudge

economise^UK

economize^US

husband your resources

cut your coat according to your cloth

have hard feelings about

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Verb

To briefly stop or interrupt an action

Verb

be reluctant to come forward

To avoid proceeding through reluctance

stay in the background

baulk^UK

be unable to make up your mind

balk^US

have misgivings about

have scruples about

keep changing your mind

not have the heart to

drag one's heels over

have reservations about

gag

faff about

be in two minds

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Verb

attach little importance to

To hold back or play down the severity of what one is communicating

minimise^UK

minimize^US

trivialize^US

trivialise^UK

set too little store by

give little weight to

put on the soft pedal

smooth over

justify

brush something under the carpet

gloze over

rationalize^US

rationalise^UK

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Verb

drive a coach and horses through

To refuse to admit the truth or existence of

show to be false

argue

blow out of the water

knock the bottom out of

knocks props out from under

balk^US

pick an argument with

prove to be wrong

hammer away at

argue the pros and cons of

show to be wrong

bandy words concerning

have an argument about

baulk^UK

defend oneself against

criticize^US

inquire^US

criticise^UK

put up a fight against

stand up and be counted against

set your face against

enquire^UK

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Verb

To remove or take away (something) from (someone)

throw into the street

cheat

deprive of

prevent from gaining

preclude from gaining

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Verb

give someone the brush-off

To show an unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

give something a miss

have nothing to do with

give a wide berth to

give the thumbs down to

give the cold shoulder

restrain oneself from

freeze out

leave out

prevent oneself from

give someone the go-by

look right through someone

tell someone where to get off

not take advantage of

refuse to take advantage of

axe^UK

look down one's nose at

ax^US

fail to take advantage of

ostracize^US

ostracise^UK

keep one's distance from

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Verb