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hold tighter

[/hoʊld ˈtaɪtər/]
verb phrase
apertar mais
1. to grip or clasp with increased force or pressure
Hold tighter to the rope so you don't fall.
Aperte mais a corda para não cair.
2. to embrace more firmly or closely
She asked him to hold tighter as they danced.
Ela pediu a ele para abraçar mais forte enquanto dançavam.
3. to maintain control or grasp more securely
Hold tighter to your budget during difficult times.
Aperte mais o controle do seu orçamento em tempos difíceis.
Synonyms
grip hardersqueeze tighterclutch more firmlyembrace more closely
Antonyms
loosenreleaselet gorelax grip

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
apertar mais
most common usage
Rio de Janeiro
apertar mais / abraçar mais forte
both forms widely used
São Paulo
apertar mais
preferred in business and formal contexts
Portugal
apertar mais / agarrar mais forte
slight variation in verb choice

Related Idioms & Phrases

hold tight
get a tight grip
hold one's own
keep a firm grasp
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