hold out

phrasal verbphr v

a) HOPE hold out something to think or say that something is possible or likely to happen, especially something good 抱有希望；提供机会；使有可能

not hold out much hope/hold out little hope

Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement.

谈判人员对和平解决并不抱很大希望。

hold out the prospect/promise of something

alternative methods which hold out the promise of improved health

可望改善健康状况的另类方法

b) FINISH/USE ALL OF somethingif a supply of something holds out, there is still some left 〔供给品的〕维持，持续

Water supplies won’t hold out much longer.

供水维持不了多久了。

c) DEFENDto continue to successfully defend a place that is being attacked 守住

The rebels held out for another night but then fresh forces arrived.

叛乱分子又守了一个晚上，但是接着增援部队到了。

d) to try to prevent yourself from doing something that someone is trying to force you to do 坚持〔不做别人强迫之事〕

against

I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out against their relentless questioning.

对于他们没完没了的盘问我不知道自己还能坚持多久。

Examples from the Corpus

hold out the prospect/promise of something• So too the yawning depths of the wave, even while threatening annihilation, hold out the promise of rebirth.• It holds out the promise of swifter verdicts.• Although Leapor accepts that many women are guilty of inconstancy and immoderate behaviour, she none the less holds out the prospect of transformation.

hold against• But still she doubted her ability to hold out against him.• You can not will yourself to hold out against reality.• All they have to do is to hold out against substandard systems and apply pragmatic criteria in the face of technical jargon.• The workers held out for several months against the closure of the mine, but they were eventually defeated.• Only Rugby Union holds out against the commercial tide despite widespread speculation about covert payments to players.• If you just try to defend and hold out against them, it wears you down.

→ hold out at hold1(PHRASAL VERB)

hold outChinese