hold back everything

[hoʊld bæk ˈɛvrɪθɪŋ]
verb phrase
reter tudo; não revelar nada; manter tudo em segredo
1. to refrain from expressing or revealing all of one's thoughts, feelings, or information
He decided to hold back everything about his past during the interview.
Ele decidiu reter tudo sobre seu passado durante a entrevista.
2. to prevent oneself from giving full effort, commitment, or participation
Don't hold back everything; give it your best shot.
Não retenha tudo; dê o seu melhor.
3. to conceal one's complete emotions or reactions
She held back everything and pretended to be fine.
Ela reteve tudo e fingiu estar bem.
This phrase is commonly used in both American and Brazilian contexts to describe emotional restraint or information control. In Brazilian culture, expressions of emotion are often more open, so 'holding back everything' may be viewed more negatively than in more reserved cultures. In professional settings, both cultures recognize the need for discretion.
NYC Slang
keep it all locked down; don't spill; stay clipped
Synonyms / Sinônimos
keep everything insidewithhold informationsuppress feelingsconceal the truthrestrain oneself
Antonyms / Antônimos
let it all outexpress everythingreveal allbe completely honestgive your all

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
reter tudo; não contar nada; guardar tudo para si
Most common usage in everyday speech
Rio de Janeiro
não soltar nada; ficar mudo
More colloquial, emphatic expression
São Paulo
guardar tudo; manter em sigilo
More formal business context usage
Portugal
reter tudo; não revelar nada; manter sigilo
Similar to Brazilian usage but with slightly different emphasis

Related Words

hold backsuppressconcealwithholdrestrainrefrain

Related Idioms & Phrases

hold your horses
hold your own
hold your tongue
let it out
bottle it up
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