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

disrupting

counteracting

avoiding

standing in the way of

throwing a monkey wrench in the works of

getting in the way of

putting the kibosh on

keeping at arm's length

putting the stopper on

placing at a disadvantage

putting at a disadvantage

defending oneself against

bringing to screeching halt

putting straitjacket on

throwing monkey wrench in

putting out of commission

keeping from happening

putting on back burner

dead-ending

giving the run around

putting on hold

throwing a monkey wrench into

throwing a spoke in the wheel of

pouring cold water on

putting a damper on

throwing cold water on

indisposing

lessening

beating someone to the draw

beating someone to the punch

beating someone to it

treating unfavourably

wronging

inflicting a handicap on

treating harshly

doing a disservice to

putting in an unfavourable position

treating unfairly

giving a disadvantage to

bringing to a standstill

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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

bringing to screeching halt

keeping a tight rein on

harboring^US

harbouring^UK

putting the brakes on

bringing to a standstill

getting under control

putting half nelson on

keeping unknown

guarding

keeping mum about

keeping under your hat

getting the better of

keeping within bounds

boxing in

keeping tight rein on

keeping feeling inside oneself

blowing the whistle on

putting the kibosh 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

more ❯

“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

disinheriting

canceling^US

cancelling^UK

letting well enough alone

more ❯

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

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

putting by for a rainy day

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

stocking up

stacking up

putting away for a rainy day

putting aside for rainy day

getting in supplies of

tidying away

tidying up

putting aside for a rainy day

saving for rainy day

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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

temporizing^US

temporising^UK

putting something off

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

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Verb

Present participle for to delay a situation until one is prepared

temporising^UK

temporizing^US

using delaying tactics

putting off

gaining time

beating about the bush

putting on the back burner

using dilatory tactics

deferring

beating around the bush

holding over

kicking the can down the road

putting off doing something

staying put

hanging about

playing a waiting game

getting no place fast

fooling around

sitting on one's butt

letting something slide

holding off

more ❯

Verb

staying in the background

Present participle for to abstain or remain apart by choice, as in not participating, hiking, leaning out, or opting out

Verb

Present participle for to avoid proceeding through reluctance

temporizing^US

temporising^UK

keeping changing your mind

flip-flopping

chopping and changing

yo-yoing

more ❯

Verb

brushing something under the carpet

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

treating as unimportant

softening up

setting too little store by

failing to appreciate

giving a lower profile

giving little weight to

attaching little importance to

putting on the soft pedal

criticizing^US

criticising^UK

more ❯

Verb

spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar

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

sparing

economising^UK

economizing^US

squirreling^US

husbanding your resources

cutting your coat according to your cloth

saving for a rainy day

looking after the pence

pulling in one's horns

going easy

more ❯

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 enclose or hem in (on all sides)

Noun

mortification of the flesh

An act of avoiding or refraining from participation in an event, task or activity

rigour^UK

rigor^US

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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

yoke

defence^UK

handicapping

occlusion

millstone round someone's neck

defense^US

precautionary measure

other side of the coin

millstone round one's neck

albatross around one's neck

kicking the can down the road

unfortunate development

unwanted responsibility

developmental disabilities

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Noun

The restraint or repression of an idea or activity, or of feelings or reactions

unwillingness to open up

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Adjective