hold back in the Oxford Spanish Dictionary

Translations for hold back in the English»Spanish Dictionary

I.hold back VB [Am hoʊld -, Brit həʊld -] (v + o + adv, v + adv + o)

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II.hold back VB [Am hoʊld -, Brit həʊld -] (v + adv)

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Translations for hold back in the English»Spanish Dictionary

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I.hold1 <pt & pp held> [Am hoʊld, Brit həʊld] VB trans

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II.hold1 <pt & pp held> [Am hoʊld, Brit həʊld] VB intr

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III.hold1 [Am hoʊld, Brit həʊld] N

1.1. hold U (grip, grasp):

to catch or grab or take hold (of sth)
agarrar (algo)
to catch or grab or take hold (of sth)
coger (algo) esp Spain
to catch or grab or take hold (of sth) (so as not to fall etc)
agarrarse or asirse (de or a algo)
catch or grab hold of that end
agarra esa punta
catch or grab hold of that end
coge esa punta esp Spain
he grabbed hold of the rope
se agarró or asió de or a la cuerda
to keep hold of sth
no soltar algo
you keep hold of him
que no se te escape
he caught or seized hold of her arm
la agarró del brazo
he caught or seized hold of her arm
la cogió del brazo esp Spain
to get hold of sb
localizar a alguien
to get hold of sb
ubicar a alguien LatAm
where can we get hold of him?
¿dónde podemos localizarlo?
where can we get hold of him?
¿dónde podemos ubicarlo? LatAm
she's difficult to get hold of during the day
es difícil dar con ella or localizarla durante el día
she's difficult to get hold of during the day
es difícil ubicarla durante el día LatAm
to get hold of sth (manage to get)
conseguir algo
he got hold of the book/some tickets
consiguió el libro/algunas entradas
where did you get hold of the idea that … ?
¿de dónde has sacado la idea de que … ?
he had a firm hold on the rope
tenía la cuerda bien agarrada or sujeta
I can't get a hold on the screw
no consigo agarrar el tornillo
after three matches the fire took hold
al tercer fósforo el fuego prendió
the flames had already taken hold
el incendio se estaba extendiendo

hold2 [Am hoʊld, Brit həʊld] N (of ship, aircraft)

1. back C ANAT:

back (of human)
espalda f
back (of animal)
lomo m
he was lying on his back
estaba tumbado boca arriba
I fell on my back
me caí de espaldas
he was flat on his back for a month
estuvo un mes en cama sin moverse
he was standing with his back to the door
estaba (de pie) de espaldas a la puerta
you break your back working and …
te deslomas or te partes el lomo trabajando y …
while my back was turned he went and told the boss
fue y se lo contó al jefe a mis espaldas
I was glad to see the back of him
me alegré de que se fuera
behind sb's back they laugh at him behind his back
se ríen de él a sus espaldas
they went behind my back and wrote to him
le escribieron sin consultarme or sin mi autorización
on the back of sb/sth
a costa de alguien/algo
to be on sb's back inf
estarle encima a alguien
I had the boss on my back
tenía al jefe encima
just get off my back!
déjame en paz inf
to break the back of a job
hacer la parte más difícil de un trabajo
to get or put sb's back up inf
irritar a alguien
to put one's back into sth
poner empeño en algo
to turn one's back on sb
volverle la espalda a alguien
she turned her back on her family
le volvió la espalda a su familia

3. back C or U (rear part):

the back of the hall
el fondo de la sala
the back of the car
la parte trasera or de atrás del coche
the back of the house
la parte de atrás de la casa
a truck ran into the back of me
un camión me chocó por detrás
at the back of the drawer
en el fondo del cajón
we sat at the back
nos sentamos al fondo
I'll sit in the back (of car)
yo me siento detrás or (en el asiento de) atrás
there's a yard at the back
hay un patio atrás
we stood at the back of the line
nos pusimos al final de la cola
(in) back of the sofa Am
detrás del sofá
he's out back in the yard Am
está en el patio, al fondo
in the back of beyond
quién sabe dónde, en el quinto pino Spain inf
in the back of beyond
donde el diablo perdió el poncho AmS inf

II.back [Am bæk, Brit bak] ADJ attr, no comp

III.back [Am bæk, Brit bak] ADV

1. back (indicating return, repetition):

he invited me back for coffee
me invitó a volver a su casa a tomar un café
we can get there and back in an hour
podemos ir y volver en una hora
the journey back
el viaje de vuelta
I'll be back by eight o'clock
estaré de vuelta para las ocho
I'll be back by eight o'clock
volveré antes de las ocho
Edwin is back from Paris
Edwin ha vuelto de París
it's back to work on Monday
el lunes hay que volver al trabajo
John is back in Toronto
John ha vuelto a Toronto
the Democrats are back in power
los demócratas han vuelto al poder
long hair is back (in fashion)
vuelve (a estar de moda) el pelo largo
meanwhile, back at the house …
mientras tanto, en la casa …
to run/fly back
volver corriendo/en avión
I'll drive you back
te llevo de vuelta en coche
we arrived back in Cambridge tired but happy
regresamos a Cambridge cansados pero contentos
she came back out
volvió a salir
I'll mail it back
lo devolveré por correo
I'll mail it back
lo mandaré de vuelta por correo
he asked for the ring back
pidió que le devolviera el anillo
he lapsed back into a coma
volvió a caer en coma

5. back → backward

back and forth (backward(s) and forward(s))

IV.back [Am bæk, Brit bak] VB trans

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V.back [Am bæk, Brit bak] VB intr

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See also hold back, take back, scratch, keep back, hand, go back, backward

I.hold back VB [Am hoʊld -, Brit həʊld -] (v + o + adv, v + adv + o)

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II.hold back VB [Am hoʊld -, Brit həʊld -] (v + adv)

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I.take back VB [Am teɪk -, Brit teɪk -] (v + o + adv, v + adv + o)

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II.take back VB [Am teɪk -, Brit teɪk -] (v + o + adv) (in time)

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I.scratch [Am skrætʃ, Brit skratʃ] N

II.scratch [Am skrætʃ, Brit skratʃ] VB trans

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III.scratch [Am skrætʃ, Brit skratʃ] VB intr

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IV.scratch [Am skrætʃ, Brit skratʃ] ADJ attr

I.keep back VB [Am kip -, Brit kiːp -] (v + adv)

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II.keep back VB [Am kip -, Brit kiːp -] (v + o + adv, v + adv + o)

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III.keep back VB [Am kip -, Brit kiːp -] (v + o + adv)

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I.hand [Am hænd, Brit hand] N

1. hand ANAT:

hand
mano f
I received it from the king's own hand
lo recibí de manos del rey
you couldn't see your hand in front of your face
no se veía nada
to be good or clever with one's hands
ser hábil con las manos
to be good or clever with one's hands
ser mañoso
with one's own hands
con sus (or mis etc.) propias manos
he killed it with his bare hands
lo mató a mano limpia
to give sb one's hand
darle la mano a alguien
they were holding hands when they arrived
llegaron tomados or agarrados de la mano
they were holding hands when they arrived
llegaron cogidos de la mano esp Spain
I need somebody to hold my hand
necesito que alguien me dé ánimos
I took Mary's hand in mine to take her across the road
le di la mano a Mary para cruzar la calle
he took me by the hand
me tomó or agarró de la mano
he took me by the hand
me cogió de la mano esp Spain
we were all on our hands and knees, looking for the ring
estábamos todos a gatas or en cuatro patas, buscando el anillo
he wouldn't give it to me even if I went down on my hands and knees
no me lo daría ni aunque se lo pidiera de rodillas
to have/hold sth in one's hands
tener/llevar algo en la mano
to hold on with both hands
agarrarse or sujetarse con las dos manos
look, no hands!
mira ¡sin manos!
to hold out one's hand to sb
tenderle la mano a alguien
to join hands
darse la(s) mano(s)
we join hands with your people in deploring the events
nos solidarizamos con vuestro pueblo al expresar nuestra repulsa
hands off!
¡quita las manos de ahí!
hands off!
¡no toques!
hands off those watercolors!
¡no me toques las acuarelas!
hands off our schools!
¡dejen en paz nuestros colegios!
hand on heart, I didn't mean it
de veras, no fue esa mi intención
can you put (your) hand on (your) heart and say it isn't true?
¿puedes decir que no es verdad con la mano en el corazón?
to put one's hand up or to raise one's hand
levantar la mano
hands up all those in favor
que levanten la mano los que estén a favor
hands up or I'll shoot!
¡manos arriba or arriba las manos o disparo!
to raise one's hand to or against sb
levantarle la mano a alguien
my father never raised a hand to me
mi padre nunca me levantó la mano or nunca me puso la mano encima
from hand to hand
de mano en mano
she climbed the rope hand over hand
trepó palmo a palmo por la cuerda
they were fighting hand to hand
luchaban cuerpo a cuerpo
a piece for four hands MUS
una pieza para cuatro manos
hand-sewn or -stitched
cosido a mano
hand-painted
pintado a mano

2. hand (in phrases):

at hand, the day of the opening was at hand
se acercaba el día de la inauguración
at hand, the day of the opening was at hand
el día de la inauguración estaba próximo
help was at hand
la ayuda estaba en camino
to learn about sth at first hand
enterarse de algo directamente or personalmente
to learn about sth at first hand
enterarse de algo de primera mano
to learn about sth at second/third hand
enterarse de algo a través de or por terceros
he heard of her marriage only at second hand from her brother
se enteró de que se había casado a través de or por su hermano
by hand, made/written by hand
hecho/escrito a mano
it must be washed by hand
hay que lavarlo a mano
he delivered the letter by hand
entregó la carta en mano or personalmente
“by hand” (on envelope)
en su mano
“by hand” (on envelope)
en mano Spain
“by hand” (on envelope)
presente CSur
hand in hand
de la mano
hand in hand
tomados or agarrados de la mano
hand in hand
cogidos de la mano esp Spain
poverty and disease go hand in hand
la pobreza y la enfermedad van de la mano
in hand glass/hat in hand
con el vaso/sombrero en la mano
in hand glass/hat in hand
vaso/sombrero en mano
sword in hand
espada en mano or en ristre
cash in hand (in accounting)
efectivo m en caja
to pay cash in hand
pagar en metálico or en efectivo
please concentrate on the task in hand
concéntrate en lo que tienes entre manos
of the projects we have currently in hand …
de los proyectos que tenemos entre manos …
let's get back to the matter in or Am also at hand
volvamos a lo que nos ocupa
I like to keep a few dollars in hand for unforeseen eventualities
me gusta tener unos dólares disponibles or en reserva para cualquier imprevisto
we've still got a couple of hours in hand before we go to the airport
todavía nos queda un par de horas antes de ir al aeropuerto
to have sth (well) in hand
tener algo controlado or bajo control
that boy needs taking in hand
a ese chico va a haber que apretarle las clavijas
on hand we're always on hand when you need us
si nos necesitas, aquí estamos
the police were on hand
la policía estaba cerca
it's useful to have it on hand
es útil tenerlo a mano
out of hand the boys get out of hand when their father is away
los chicos se descontrolan cuando el padre no está
the situation is getting out of hand
la situación se les (or nos etc.) va de las manos
to reject sth out of hand
rechazar algo de plano
to hand Brit (within reach)
al alcance de la mano
to hand Brit (within reach)
a (la) mano
to hand (available)
disponible
I don't have your file to hand
no tengo su archivo a (la) mano
according to the information to hand
según la información disponible
I can't find it now, but I'm sure it will come to hand
no lo encuentro en este momento, pero ya aparecerá
she grabbed the first thing that came to hand
agarró lo primero que encontró
hand in glove or esp Am hand and glove, they're allegedly hand in glove with their competitors to fix prices
se dice que se han puesto de acuerdo con la competencia para fijar los precios
hand over fist
a manos llenas
hand over fist
a espuertas esp Spain
her/his left hand doesn't know what her/his right hand is doing
su mano izquierda no sabe lo que hace su derecha
not to do a hand's turn inf
no mover un dedo inf
not to do a hand's turn inf
no dar golpe Spain Mex inf
to ask for/win sb's hand (in marriage) form
pedir/obtener la mano de alguien (en matrimonio)
to beat sb/win hands down
ganarle a alguien/ganar sin problemas or sin el menor esfuerzo
to bind sb hand and foot
atar a alguien de pies y manos
to bind sb hand and foot
amarrar a alguien de pies y manos LatAm excl RioPl
we're bound hand and foot
estamos atados de pies y manos
we're bound hand and foot
tenemos las manos atadas
to bite the hand that feeds one
ser un desagradecido
talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
¡cría cuervos … !
to dirty or sully one's hands she wouldn't dirty her hands with typing
no se rebajaría a hacer de mecanógrafa: se le caerían los anillos
he's already dirtied his hands with arms dealing
ya se ha ensuciado las manos comerciando con armas
to force sb's hand events forced their hand
los acontecimientos los obligaron a actuar
I didn't want to, but you forced my hand
no quería hacerlo, pero no me dejaste otra salida
to gain/have the upper hand , eventually she gained the upper hand over her rival
finalmente se impuso a su rival
she's always had the upper hand in their relationship
siempre ha dominado ella en su relación
to get one's hands on sb/sth, just wait till I get my hands on him!
¡vas a ver cuando lo agarre!
she can't wait to get her hands on the new computer
se muere por usar la computadora nueva
I've been trying to get my hands on that book for ages
hace años que ando tras ese libro
to give sb/have a free hand
darle a alguien/tener carta blanca
to give sb one's hand on sth he gave me his hand on it and the bargain was sealed
cerramos el trato con un apretón de manos
to give sb the glad hand Am
saludar a alguien efusivamente
to give with one hand and take away with the other
borrar con el codo lo que se escribe con la mano
to go hat or Brit cap in hand (to sb), the next day, hat in hand, I apologized to the boss
al día siguiente me tragué el orgullo y le pedí perdón al jefe
I can't stand the way you have to go hat in hand to her for the smallest request
no soporto que hasta el menor favor se lo tengas que pedir de rodillas
we had to go to them hat in hand asking for more money
tuvimos que ir a mendigarles más dinero
to grab or grasp or seize sth with both hands it was a wonderful opportunity and she grabbed it with both hands
era una oportunidad fantástica y no dejó que se le escapara de las manos
to have one's hands full she certainly has her hands full with seven children
por cierto que tiene en qué entretenerse, con siete niños
at the moment we've got our hands full with this order
en este momento estamos ocupadísimos con este pedido
to have one's hands tied
tener las manos atadas
to have one's hands tied
tener las manos amarradas LatAm excl RioPl
my/his hands are tied
tengo/tiene las manos atadas
my/his hands are tied
tengo/tiene las manos amarradas LatAm excl RioPl
to have sb eating out of one's hand
hacer con alguien lo que se quiere
to have sb eating out of one's hand
manejar a alguien a su (or mi etc.) antojo
she had them eating out of her hand
hacía con ellos lo que quería
she had them eating out of her hand
los manejaba a su antojo
to keep one's hand in
no perder la práctica
to know a place like the back of one's hand
conocer un sitio al dedillo or como la palma de la mano
she knows Paris like the back of her hand
(se) conoce París al dedillo or como la palma de la mano
to live (from) hand to mouth
vivir al día
to put or dip one's hand in one's pocket
contribuir con dinero
to put or lay one's hand(s) on sth
dar con algo
to sit on one's hands
cruzarse de brazos
to sit on one's hands
estar mano sobre mano
to stay one's/sb's hand (from sth) liter, they begged him to stay his hand
le rogaron que se contuviera
she managed to stay his hand from that dreadful act
logró impedir que cometiera semejante barbaridad
to try one's hand (at sth)
probar (a hacer algo)
to turn one's hand to sth I'm willing to turn my hand to anything
estoy dispuesto a hacer cualquier tipo de trabajo
he was a success in everything he turned his hand to
todo lo que se proponía (hacer) le salía bien
to wait on sb hand and foot
hacerle de sirviente/sirvienta a alguien
to wash one's hands of sth
desentenderse de algo
to wash one's hands of sth
lavarse las manos de algo
many hands make light work
el trabajo compartido es más llevadero

3.3. hand <hands, pl > (possession, control, care):

to change hands
cambiar de dueño or manos
a few dollars changed hands and it was mine
les di unos dólares y era mío
the contract is now in the hands of the lawyer
ahora el contrato está en manos del abogado
your future lies in your own hands
tú eres dueño de tu futuro
your future lies in your own hands
tu futuro depende de ti
can I leave the matter in your hands?
¿puedo dejar el asunto en tus manos?
in private hands
en manos (de) particulares
in good/capable hands
en buenas manos
my life is in your hands
mi vida depende de ti
how did that vase come into your hands?
¿cómo llegó a tus manos ese jarrón?
he/it fell into the hands of the enemy or into enemy hands
cayó en manos del enemigo
to put oneself in sb's hands
ponerse en manos de alguien
to get sth/sb off one's hands inf
quitarse algo/a alguien de encima inf
he offered to take it off my hands for $500 inf
me dijo que me daba 500 dólares por él para quitármelo de encima
on sb's hands, she hates having the children on her hands all day long
detesta tener a los niños a su cuidado todo el día
I've enough on my hands just now without that as well
tengo ya bastante entre manos como para meterme también en eso
to have more time on one's hands
tener más tiempo libre
we've got a problem on our hands
tenemos or se nos presenta un problema
I think we may have a bestseller on our hands
creo que estamos frente a un posible bestseller
out of sb's hands, the matter is out of my hands
el asunto no está en mis manos
the decision has been taken out of his hands
la decisión ya no está en sus manos
to play into sb's hands the strikers are playing into the management's hands
los huelguistas le están haciendo el juego or se lo están poniendo en bandeja a la patronal

5.1. hand GAMES (set of cards):

hand
mano f
hand
cartas fpl
a good/poor hand
una buena/mala mano
a good/poor hand
buenas/malas cartas
to overplay one's hand
jugar mal sus (or mis etc.) cartas
to show or reveal one's hand
mostrar or enseñar las cartas
to show or reveal one's hand
mostrar el juego
to strengthen sb's hand
afianzar la posición de alguien
to throw in one's hand (to abandon a course of action, plan)
tirar la toalla or esponja
to throw in one's hand (to abandon a course of action, plan)
claudicar
to throw in one's hand lit (in poker)
abandonar (las apuestas)
to throw in one's hand lit (in poker)
irse al plato Chil
to tip one's hand Am inf
dejar ver sus (or mis etc.) intenciones

II.hand [Am hænd, Brit hand] VB trans

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go back VB [Am ɡoʊ -, Brit ɡəʊ -] (v + adv)

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I.backward [Am ˈbækwərd, Brit ˈbakwəd] ADJ

hold back in the PONS Dictionary

Translations for hold back in the English»Spanish Dictionary

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I.hold [həʊld, Am hoʊld] held, held N

II.hold [həʊld, Am hoʊld] held, held VB trans

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III.hold [həʊld, Am hoʊld] held, held VB intr

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American English

Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)

English
The police were able to hold back the crowd at first, using clubs to hit anyone who attempted to interfere.
en.wikipedia.org
An upstream reservoir to hold back flood water was also proposed.
en.wikipedia.org
The arch dam design is an ideal one for a dam built in a narrow, rocky gorge to hold back water in a reservoir.
en.wikipedia.org
The dam depends on 117,000 cubic yards of concrete, and 600,000 yards of dirt fill to hold back the water.
en.wikipedia.org
This gives them a special sensitivity in relationships, knowing when to show warmth and when to hold back.
en.wikipedia.org
Her skills are unmatched but her stubbornness and tough exterior tend to hold back her personal relationships.
en.wikipedia.org
And a thousand times rather tear in me they hold back or buried.
en.wikipedia.org
I can't hold back on anything, and taking chances is what sports are about.
en.wikipedia.org
It's a kind of gallows humour that help them to hold back their nightmares.
www.mirror.co.uk
Participants must restrain themselves from movement and crying until they reach a point in which they can no longer hold back.
en.wikipedia.org

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