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

interrupting

throwing a monkey wrench in the works of

standing in the way of

getting in the way of

bringing to screeching halt

staving off

placing at a disadvantage

intermitting

chaining

shutting out

putting at a disadvantage

putting straitjacket on

throwing monkey wrench in

putting out of commission

keeping under control

throwing a spoke in the wheel of

inflicting a handicap on

telling against

treating unfavourably

wronging

treating harshly

doing a disservice to

putting in an unfavourable position

treating unfairly

giving a disadvantage to

bringing to a standstill

fixing

cornering

giving the run around

putting paid to

pigeonholing

putting the kibosh on

putting on back burner

upsetting

putting on hold

throwing a monkey wrench into

pouring cold water on

putting a damper on

throwing cold water on

upsetting the applecart

putting a spoke in someone's wheel

putting the mockers on

putting the stopper on

putting the brakes on

getting the better of

taking wind out of sails

rendering null and void

canceling^US

cancelling^UK

taking the wind out of your sails

cooking someone's goose

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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

bringing to screeching halt

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

keeping under control

keeping a tight rein on

harboring^US

harbouring^UK

putting the brakes on

bringing to a standstill

getting under control

putting the kibosh on

putting half nelson on

keeping under your hat

getting the better of

keeping within bounds

boxing in

keeping tight rein on

keeping feeling inside oneself

putting the stopper on

blowing the whistle on

standing in the way of

putting a brake on

slackening pace

playing for time

putting a spoke in someone's wheel

censoring

sweeping under the rug

keeping quiet

glossing over

sweeping under the carpet

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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

avoiding doing something

having nothing to do with

washing your hands of

divorcing oneself from

getting off

having nothing more to do with

giving someone the push

giving the elbow

giving someone the big E

ending relations with

giving someone the air

breaking the habit of

helping

neutralising^UK

canceling^US

cancelling^UK

letting well enough alone

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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 delay

Verb

keeping from doing something

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

putting something off

sitting tight

taking no action

avoiding doing something

playing a waiting game

keeping your shirt on

filling time

playing the waiting game

catching one's breath

coming to standstill

pulling up

breaking it up

adopting Fabian tactics

hanging onto your hat

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Verb

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

keeping possession of

squirreling^US

saving for a rainy day

retaining possession of

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Verb

putting on the back burner

Present participle for to postpone from being dealt with

putting in cold storage

taking a rain check on

putting off the evil day

setting back

putting off the evil hour

suspending proceedings

putting on back burner

putting something off

rising

forestaying

temporizing^US

temporising^UK

putting on one side

leaving to another time

taking a breather from

putting on a back burner

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Verb

Present participle for to cause to proceed or move at a slower pace

putting the brakes on

getting in the way of

putting a restriction on

economizing^US

economising^UK

lowering

marking off

marking down

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Verb

(of an action or event) Present participle for to prevent from happening

beating someone to the draw

standing in the way of

putting the kibosh on

putting the stopper on

keeping from happening

second-guessing

cutting off

beating someone to it

beating someone to the punch

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Verb

staying in the background

Present participle for to avoid proceeding through reluctance

temporizing^US

putting off doing something

temporising^UK

using delaying tactics

playing a waiting game

creeping

horsing around

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Verb

setting too little store by

Present participle for to hold back or play down the severity of what one is communicating

minimising^UK

minimizing^US

setting little store by

doing an injustice to

thinking too little of

failing to appreciate

giving a lower profile

giving little weight to

attaching little importance to

putting on the soft pedal

brushing something under the carpet

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Verb

defending oneself against

Present participle for to protect or defend against

fighting off

guarding against

keeping at bay

keeping at arm's length

harbouring^UK

harboring^US

affording protection to

immunizing^US

immunising^UK

taking under one's wing

taking someone under your wing

being responsible for

providing protection for

shielding yourself from

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Verb

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

Verb

Present participle for to remove or take away (something) from (someone)

Verb

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

Verb

Present participle for to fend off or defend against something hostile

Verb

Present participle for to enclose or hem in (on all sides)

Noun

The restraint, prevention, or inhibition of a feeling, quality, etc.

keeping under control

unwillingness to open up

strength of character

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Noun

Abstinence from social activities

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Noun

The action of impeding a process or progress

baulk^UK

balk^US

monkey wrench in the works

millstone around your neck

psychological baggage

millstone round someone's neck

defence^UK

defense^US

albatross around one's neck

other side of the coin

millstone round one's neck

unfortunate development

unwanted responsibility

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Noun

The action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody

jail^US

gaol^UK

jailing^US

gaoling^UK

labor^US

labour^UK

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Adjective

Maintaining

Adjective