hold onto
To keep a tight grip on something, or to keep something so you don't lose it.
Meanings
To grip something firmly with your hands, preventing it from slipping or being taken away.
"Hold onto the railing as you walk down — the steps are icy."
To keep something in your possession rather than giving it away, losing it, or spending it.
"Hold onto your receipt in case you need to return the item."
To maintain a lead, position, advantage, or belief, especially under pressure.
"The team held onto first place despite their star player's injury."
"We must hold onto our values in the face of adversity."
— Nelson Mandela, various speeches (widely paraphrased pattern)
Widely used for both physical grip and figurative possession (hold onto a lead, hold onto hope, hold onto a memory). 'Hold on to' (two words) and 'hold onto' are both correct spellings. Very common across all registers.
Commonly used with
Forms
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