hold (something) against (somebody)
Meaning(s)
1. be angry or dislike somebody due to something they have done in the past
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
I won't hold that against you
Analysis
To 'hold something against someone' means to have a negative attitude towards someone based on how they behaved in the past. When you hold something against someone it is the same as 'holding a grudge' meaning you find it hard to forgive past wrongdoings and move on.
Social Examples (Basic)
- Person A: "I can't stand Andrea, especially after the way she behaved at the party last weekend." Person B: "You can't hold that against her - she'd just had too much to drink."
- I don't believe in holding things against people. iI someone apologises to me I am willing to let things go.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Luke did leave the company in the lurch before, but he's proven his reliability since then. It's not fair to keep holding that against him.
- Tom's mistake cost us a lucrative contract, but it could have happened to anyone. I won't hold it against him.