—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
31. The verb to hold as a synonym of to have is translated tener; meaning to contain it is contener. When it indicates that a thing has a certain capacity it is translated caber en. In this last sense the English subject becomes in Spanish the object of the preposition en, while the English object becomes the subject of caber.
He held his hat in his hand all the time.
Tenía el sombrero en la mano todo el tiempo.
This box holds all that I want.
Este cajón contiene todo lo que yo necesito.
We shall have to get another sack. This one holds only a pound.
Tendremos que buscar otro saco. En éste cabe solo una libra.
Contiene solo una libra would mean there is only a pound in it.
Note.—A very common expression is no cabe duda, which translates there is no doubt.