keep back
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: 1. To withhold; to refuse to give or share something. To deliberately not give something that is due, expected, or requested. 2. To retain; to hold or keep something for potential future use. To keep something in one's possession instead of releasing or using it. 3. To restrain or control; to prevent something from being expressed or happening. To hold back a feeling, reaction, or person.
Examples of Usage
- Withhold Meaning:
- The teacher decided to keep back the test results until she could speak to each student individually.
- The company kept back a portion of his salary for taxes.
- Retain Meaning:
- It's wise to keep back some emergency savings.
- I always keep back a few tomatoes from the harvest to save seeds for next year.
- Restrain/Control Meaning:
- She could barely keep back her tears during the emotional speech.
- The police officers worked to keep back the crowd from the accident scene.
Advanced Usage
- "To keep something/someone back": This structure is common, specifying what is being withheld or restrained.
- He kept the shocking news back from his family.
- The dam kept the floodwaters back.
Variants and Related Words
- Withhold (verb): To refuse to give something. Often used interchangeably with the first meaning of "keep back."
- Retain (verb): To continue to have or hold something. A more formal synonym for the second meaning.
- Restrain (verb): To prevent someone or something from doing something. A core synonym for the third meaning.
- Detain (verb): To keep someone from leaving; to delay.
Synonyms
- Hold back: (Can be used in all three contexts, very similar in meaning).
- Reserve: (For the "retain" meaning).
- Suppress: (For the "control/restrain" meaning, especially for emotions).
- Conceal: (For the "withhold" meaning, especially information).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Hold back: Very similar and often interchangeable with "keep back" in all its meanings.
- He held back the report. (Withhold)
- Hold back your anger.* (Restrain)
- Keep down: To control or limit something, especially costs, prices, or rebellion.
- The government tried to keep down inflation.
Related Idioms
- Keep a tight rein on: To control something or someone very strictly.
- The manager keeps a tight rein on the department's budget.
- Bite one's tongue: To stop oneself from saying something.
- I had to bite my tongue to keep back a rude comment.
Verb
- hold back; refuse to hand over or share
- The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room
- secure and keep for possible future use or application
- The landlord retained the security deposit
- I reserve the right to disagree
- keep under control; keep in check
- suppress a smile
- Keep your temper
- keep your cool