Hold hands means to hold each other's hand, usually about two people: They were holding hands. When one person holds another's hand, it's hold someone's hand: Hold my hand. The phrase also has a figurative meaning: to help someone step by step with something difficult.
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hold hands (with + person); hold someone's hand; hold my hand
- The kids held hands as they crossed the busy road.
- My grandparents still hold hands when they go for a walk.
- The nurse held my hand while the doctor took a blood sample.
What changed
First versionThe couple walked along the river, keeping hands.
RevisionThe couple walked along the river, holding hands.
Keep and hold can both seem to mean having something in your hands, hence keeping hands. But keep means to continue to have or to store something, and what you grip with your hand is hold. One word was replaced: holding hands.
Figuratively, hold someone's hand means to support and guide them through something difficult. Sometimes that sounds like being treated as a child: I don't need you to hold my hand, I can fill in the form myself, meaning I don't need a babysitter, I can manage.
Your turn
The couple walked along the beach, ___ and laughing.
Show the answer
holding hands — Walking hand in hand is holding hands: hold describes what you grip with your hand. Native speakers don't say keeping hands: keep means to continue to have something or store it.
Describe a photo or scene where people are holding hands. Say who they are and where they are.
In my favourite photo, my parents are holding hands on a bench in a park in Riga.
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