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[hold out] {v.
phr.} 1. To put forward; reach out; extend; offer.
Mr. Ryan held out his hand
in welcome.
The clerk held out a dressfor Martha to try on.
The Company
held out many fine promises toJack in order to get him to work for them.
2. To
keep resisting; notyield; refuse to give up.
The city held out for six months
undersiege.
Compare: HANG ON, HOLD ON. 3. To refuse to agree or settleuntil
one's wishes have been agreed to.
The strikers held out for araise of five
cents an hour.
4. {slang} To keep something from;refuse information or
belongings to which someone has a right.
Mr.Porters partner held out on him
when the big payment came in.
Mother gave Bobby cookies for all the children
in the yard, but heheld out on them and ate the cookies himself.
John knew
that thefamily would go to the beach Saturday, but he held out on
hisbrother.
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