Hold out means to last or keep going in a difficult situation or against pressure, or to offer something by holding it towards someone, such as your hand. Said about supplies, it means there was enough to last: The water held out.
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hold out + hand/object; hold out (against + pressure); supplies + hold out; hold out for + better offer
- She held out her hand to the new manager and introduced herself.
- We had enough food and water to hold out until the rescue team arrived.
- The workers held out for three weeks before the company agreed to talk.
What changed
First versionShe stretched her hand to greet me.
RevisionShe held out her hand to greet me.
Stretch can seem like the verb for reaching your hand out. But stretch means to reach out your arms or legs to loosen your muscles: people stretch after exercise, and cats stretch after a nap. To offer your hand for a handshake or pass someone an object, the phrase is hold out.
Hold out for means to keep waiting for something better and refuse to accept less: She held out for a higher salary means she didn't give way until she got better pay. That's why Holding Out for a Hero means “I'm waiting for a hero and won't settle for less.” Hold on means “wait” or “hold tight”: Hold on, I'll check.
Your turn
We only had two bottles of water, but they ___ until we reached the village.
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held out — There was little water, but it was enough to reach the village, so the supply lasted: held out. Ran out means “was used up”, and with but and until we reached the village, that contradicts the meaning.
Describe a situation when you or your supplies had to last. Say how long it went on and how it ended.
During the storm our food held out for three days, and on the fourth morning the road was finally cleared.
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