hold in

See also: holdin'

English

Verb

hold in (third-person singular simple present holds in, present participle holding in, simple past and past participle held in)

1. (transitive) To keep something to oneself; to prevent from escaping.

   to hold in laughter, or one's emotions

   • 1985 June 10, R.E.M. (lyrics and music), “Can’t Get There From Here”, in Fables of the Reconstruction:

     When the world is a monster
     bad to swallow you whole,
     kick the clay that holds those teeth in,
     throw your trolls out the door.

2. (intransitive, dated) To restrain oneself.

   He wanted to laugh and could hardly hold in.

Anagrams

• inhold