She wanted to introduce herself to him but she held back out of shyness.她本想向他做个自我介绍,但因害羞而退缩了。
b :to make a less than complete effort未尽全力
She could have beaten him in the race, but she held back and let him win. [=she did not run as fast as she could have so that he would win]她本可以在比赛中战胜他,但她没有尽全力,让他赢了。
c hold (someone) back:to stop (someone) from doing something阻拦,妨碍(某人做某事)
Once he starts talking, there's no holding him back. [=it's very hard to get him to stop talking]一旦他打开话匣子,就停不下来了。
2
hold (something) backorhold back (something)
a :to not allow (something) to be seen or known by someone防止(某事)被知晓
He was unable to hold back his tears. [=to keep from crying]他忍不住哭了起来。
The government held back [=withheld] some crucial information from the media.政府隐瞒了一些来自媒体的重要信息。
I know you're angry, so don't hold anything back (from me). [=tell me everything]我知道你生气了,所以不要对我隐瞒任何事。
b :to keep (something)贮存
He held several thousand dollars back in case of an emergency.他攒了几千美元来以防万一。
c :to delay (something)延迟;耽搁
The company held back the first shipment of the new product until it was completely ready.公司推迟了新产品的第一次装运,直到它完全准备好。
3
hold (someone or something) backorhold back (someone or something):to stop (someone or something) from moving forward:to stop (someone or something) from advancing to the next level, grade, or stage阻止(人或物)进入下一阶段
She might have been more successful, but bad health held her back.她本可以更加成功,但身体不好妨碍了她。
He was held back [=kept back] in first grade.他一年级时留过级。