be held in high esteem
To be regarded with a large amount of respect or admiration. I'll go see if I can persuade the committee, for I am held in high esteem among them. Mr. Ross has always been held in high esteem for all his charity work.
be held in high regard
To be regarded with a large amount of respect or admiration. I'll go see if I can persuade the committee, for I am held in high regard among them. Mr. Ross has always been held in high regard for all his charity work.
hold (someone) in high esteem
To have a large amount of respect or admiration for someone. I'll go see if I can persuade the committee—they hold me in high esteem. I've always held my father in high esteem for his hard work to provide for us.
hold (someone) in high regard
To have a large amount of respect or admiration for someone. I'll go see if I can persuade the committee—they hold me in high regard. I've always held my father in high regard for his hard work to provide for us.
hold a grudge
To harbor persistent and continual resentment or ill feelings toward someone, especially for some slight or wrongdoing he or she has committed in the past. Johnny has been holding a grudge against me since we were 12 because I embarrassed him in front of a girl he liked. Samantha is just so forgiving—I don't think she's ever held a grudge in her life!
hold the reins
To have or be in control, especially of a group, project, or situation. Though my grandfather was the breadwinner, it was my grandmother who truly held the reins in their house. The boss decided she'd hold the reins on this project after the assistant manager bungled the last one so badly.
hold the ring
To monitor or control a conflict or dispute, especially in a neutral or uninvolved manner. Primarily heard in UK. Working in HR, my job is to hold the ring between employees who have a problem, rather than involve myself directly in it.
hold up (one's) end (of the bargain)
To fulfill or attend to one's obligation(s) or promise(s) as agreed; to do one's agreed part in some arrangement. I've paid my share setting up this business—now it's time for you to hold up your end. Jackie didn't hold up her end of the bargain, so we're excluding her from the deal.
hold (someone) in good stead
Especially of a talent, ability, or experience, to prove particularly useful or beneficial to someone in the future. Janet is hoping her internship working in IT will hold her in good stead when she looks for a job after college.
hold fast
1. To remain securely adhered (to something). I didn't think the makeshift weld would do the trick, but I'm happy to say that it's holding fast.
2. To remain determined, stalwart, and unyielding, as in one's position or opinion. Though it may be hard, we must hold fast in our pledge to environmental reform.
hold firm
1. To remain securely adhered (to something). I didn't think the makeshift weld would do the trick, but I'm happy to say that it's holding firm.
2. To remain determined, stalwart, and unyielding, as in one's position or opinion. Though it may be hard, we must hold firm in our pledge to environmental reform.
with (one's) head held high
Displaying pride and confidence, often (but not always) after something has gone wrong. Even though I knew I blew the presentation, I walked out of the conference room with my head held high… and then cried in my car. After hearing that he had been named to the all-star team, Paul walked through the halls with his head held high.
hold a wolf by the ears
To be in a difficult situation from which it is as dangerous to extricate oneself as it is to remain in it. I'm afraid we're holding a wolf by the ears regarding our current healthcare system. It would be unthinkable to completely overhaul it, but it is dangerously untenable in its current condition. The authoritarian regime is holding the wolf by the ears with the way it treats the population.
hold an eel by the tail
To try to engage or somehow detain an elusive person or thing. Trying to get in touch with my insurance company is like trying to holding an eel by the tail—I can never get through to a live person! Every time we try to pin charges on the mob boss, it's as hard as holding an eel by the tail because he somehow weasels his way out of them!
hold (all) the cards
To be in a position of power or control over someone or something else. The phrase alludes to having the best cards in a card game (which would lead to victory). Now that Charlotte knows about us, she holds all the cards—I imagine it won't be long until she tells my wife what she saw. I saw my brother break the vase, so I hold the cards right now and can get him to do anything I want.