A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

hold someone’s feet to the fire • light a fire under
someone
hold someone’s feet to the fire —(also: keep someone’s feet to the
fire) pressure a person to undertake smth. (to make good on
a promise, etc.): I’m not going to punch him in the nose, but
can’t I hold his feet to the fire in a polite and gentle way?
hold on to someone
– 178 –

---

light a fire under someone —(also: build a fire under someone)
do smth. to motivate or stimulate a person: I want to light a
fire under them and push them to places they never thought
they could go. I want to help them reach their full potential.
hold something in • keep something in
hold something in —
1
. (of an animal) control or restrain: Your
horse is trying to go too fast; you must hold him in. 2. control
one’s emotions: It was impossible for the children to hold in
their laughter any longer.
keep something in —
1
. retain smth. as part of a writing, per-
formance, etc.: But that’s the best joke in the play, let’s keep
it in! 2. = hold something in 2: Jim was able to keep his anger
in and avoid a fight. 3. keep a supply of smth.: I always keep
some good wine in for unexpected guests.
hold something in contempt • hold something up
to contempt
hold something in contempt—look down upon smth.; despise
smth.: One of the worst things I could imagine was slavery
and I had always held it in contempt.
hold something up to contempt—cause smth. to be the object
of contempt: He held up to contempt all that was mediocre
in their art.
hold something in hand • hold something in the
hand
hold something in hand —
1
. keep smth. with the hand: Carter
turned back and waved the chart he was holding in hand. 2.
have smth. at one’s disposal; keep smth. in reserve: Father has
decided to hold £500 in hand in case of a business emergency.
hold something in the hand — = hold something in hand 
1
:
“Where did that rose come from?” James inspected the rose
he was holding in the hand.