2. (venery) (or Hold it).—To be impregnated; to be got with child. [In certain parts of Scotland, it is said, a farm servant stating that she “disna haud” commands double wages.]
To hold on to, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To apply oneself; to be persistent: generally, to hold on like grim death.
1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 71. He recovered, and wisely held on to for the future.
Hold up, verb. phr. (American and Australian).—1. To rob on the highway; to bail or stick up (q.v.). Also as subs. = a highwayman or road-agent (q.v.).
1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. One man held up six stage passengers in Arizona the other day and robbed them of $2,000. Each was armed, but it is customary to submit out there, and so up went their hands.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. Mounted on a white horse, he started on a land-prospecting tour and ran against a party of hold-ups.
1892. Lippincott, Oct., p. 495. Would hold the train up until I had finished.
2. (thieves’).—To arrest. For synonyms, see Nab.
To hold the stage, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To have the chief place on the boards and the eye of an audience. Fr., avoir les planches.
To hold a candle to (the devil, etc.), verb. phr. (colloquial).—See Devil, and add the following quot.