hold the line

verb

Etymology

Probably an allusion to a line of soldiers remaining steadfastly in position during combat.

Definitions

  1. To firmly maintain one's viewpoint, principles, or situation

    To firmly maintain one's viewpoint, principles, or situation; to refuse to change one's practices or plans.

    • The UN General Assembly was expected to hold the line again today against seating Red China.
    • The quarterly survey . . . said banks were holding the line on lending standards for commercial loans and were more willing to lend to individuals.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for hold the line. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA