What is another word for holding back ?

Present participle for to impede the work or progress of

preventing from making progress

throwing a spanner in the works of

throwing a monkey wrench in the works of

standing in the way of

keeping under control

keeping a tight rein on

cramping one's style

getting in the way of

putting the brakes on

letting up

bringing to a standstill

harboring^US

putting on the back burner

keeping within bounds

putting the kibosh on

harbouring^UK

bringing to screeching halt

clipping someone's wings

putting on back burner

putting at a disadvantage

temporizing^US

gaoling^UK

jailing^US

placing at a disadvantage

putting in cold storage

pouring cold water on

throwing cold water on

throwing a spanner in the works

temporising^UK

taking a rain check on

keeping under your hat

keeping from happening

staving

lousing up

throwing a spoke in the wheel of

putting half nelson on

gaining mastery over

tying someone's hands

putting a straitjacket on

keeping tight rein on

putting straitjacket on

throwing monkey wrench in

putting a spoke in someone's wheel

keeping feeling inside oneself

bringing to naught

collaring

putting off the evil hour

carrying over

doing later

putting off the evil day

putting in abeyance

standing over

giving the run around

throwing a monkey wrench into

suspending proceedings

keeping within limits

economizing^US

economising^UK

putting out of commission

keeping at arm's length

safeguarding against

shielding against

defending oneself against

inflicting a handicap on

doing a disservice to

putting in an unfavourable position

treating unfairly

treating unfavourably

wronging

treating harshly

giving a disadvantage to

coming to a standstill

avoiding the issue

standing off

beating around the bush

beating someone to the punch

commandeering

beating somebody to it

beating someone to the draw

beating someone to it

acting like a wet blanket

putting the stopper on

putting out of the way

playing a waiting game

tottering

using delaying tactics

putting off doing something

catching one's breath

keeping under one's hat

adopting Fabian tactics

putting your two cents in

sticking your nose in

having second thoughts

staying in the background

blowing the whistle on

putting a cork in

bringing to standstill

sweeping under the rug

keeping quiet

sweeping something under the rug

sweeping under the carpet

sweeping something under the carpet

censoring

keeping in the dark

having on a tight leash

cracking down

bringing under control

putting a restriction on

downsizing

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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

Present participle for to (attempt to) repress or suppress showing or expressing something

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

Verb

resisting the temptation to

Present participle for to refrain from saying or doing something

giving a wide berth to

sitting on one's hands

having nothing to do with

giving something a miss

ceasing to indulge in

revoking

coming off

throwing off

stopping oneself from

restraining oneself from

holding back from

doing away with

washing your hands of

washing one's hands of

turning one's back on

bringing to an end

jacking something in

casting off

refusing to acknowledge

sacrificing something

breaking the habit of

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

Verb

Present participle for to refrain from openly expressing or displaying

keeping under control

throwing cold water on

pouring cold water on

keeping a tight rein on

sealing somebody's lips

demurring

hampering

freezing

decreasing the volume

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Verb

bringing to screeching halt

Present participle for to refrain from openly expressing or displaying

sealing somebody's lips

demurring

stilling

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Verb

kicking the can down the road

Present participle for to delay a situation until one is prepared

temporising^UK

temporizing^US

using delaying tactics

beating about the bush

dallying

putting something on the back burner

using dilatory tactics

avoiding committing oneself

playing a waiting game

avoiding making a decision

caviling^US

cavilling^UK

beating around the bush

sidestepping the issue

dodging the issue

giving a false colour to

Verb

Present participle for to delay action until a particular time or event

playing the waiting game

twiddling your thumbs

playing a waiting game

deferring

postponing

refraining from

keeping from doing something

avoiding doing something

putting something off

twiddling one's thumbs

hanging onto your hat

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Verb

Present participle for to preserve (something) by not expending or using it

squirreling^US

saving for a rainy day

keeping possession of

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Verb

Present participle for be very economical or mean about spending or providing something

Verb

Present participle for to take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to

Verb

Present participle for to move or walk lackadaisically

moving at a snail's pace

Verb

Present participle for pretend as if something were unimportant

minimising^UK

minimizing^US

Verb

Present participle for to lower the rank or status of something or someone

Verb

Present participle for to hold or maintain

Verb

Present participle for euphemize, hold back in communication

minimising^UK

minimizing^US

toning down

Verb

Present participle for state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of

Verb

Present participle for to fend off or defend against something hostile

dueling^US

duelling^UK

giving cold shoulder to

keeping at arm's length

keeping at a distance

defending against

protecting against

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Verb

Present participle for to remove or take away from

Verb

Present participle for to resent or envy the success or possessions of

Verb

Present participle for to show an unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

Verb

Present participle for to remove completely, leaving no trace

Adjective

Provisional

Adjective

Maintaining

Adjective

That serves to suppress

Noun

The action of inhibiting a process

monkey wrench in the works

baulk^UK

balk^US

keeping under control

millstone around your neck

psychological baggage

millstone round someone's neck

defence^UK

defense^US

electronic ankle bracelet

abridgment^US

abridgement^UK

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Noun

Abstinence from social activities

Noun