keep back
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle back
Meanings
Withhold information or feelings
Why “back”? Something wants to move forward or come out. You keep it back, so it stays behind a limit.
“She kept back the painful details.”
“He kept back the final cost from the team.”
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“She kept back the painful details.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
keep away
A contrast learners often mix up
Stay at a distance from someone or something
keep out
A contrast learners often mix up
Prevent someone or something from entering
bite back
Same back pattern: holding
Stop yourself from saying something that you really want to say
choke back
Same back pattern: holding
Suppress an emotion welling up
cut back
Same back pattern: holding
Reduce sharply, especially expenditure; Reduce the amount of something, especially spending
fall back
Same back pattern: holding
Move backwards quickly, often in retreat; Use something as a backup when other options fail; Move into a position behind others
fight back
Same back pattern: holding
Defend yourself against an attack; Try to suppress a feeling like tears or anger
hang back
Same back pattern: holding
Hesitate to take part
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