hold back”的意思是“压抑感情、抑制笑声或者眼泪”；但是这个词组的含义非常广，它还可以表示“隐瞒、储备、阻挡、犹豫、退缩”：
She kept trying to hold back her tears. 她一直在试图抑制住眼泪。
He could no longer hold back convulsive laughter. 他再也忍不住，前俯后仰地大笑起来。
I was close to tears with frustration, but I held back.我沮丧得快要哭出来，但我忍住了。
You seem to be holding something back. 你好像隐瞒了点什么。
Farmers apparently hold back produce in the hope that prices will rise. 农民囤积农产品显然是希望价格能够上涨。
Stagnation in home sales is holding back economic recovery... 国内销售的停滞不前正阻碍着经济复苏。
Jack wanted to wake up, but sleep held him back. 杰克想要醒来，但睡意使他又沉入梦乡。