held his marker

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held his marker" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to gambling, sports, or situations where someone is keeping track of scores or debts. Example: "During the poker game, he held his marker until he could pay off his debts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Fitzgerald held his marker off brilliantly there.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet again McAuley held off his marker, this time the central defender Odmar Faero, and from four yards out sent a diving header wide of the Faroes' keeper.

The Guardian - Sport

Taylor was lurking at the far post and as the ball came in the robust 20-year-old made yards to get into the middle and held off his marker to power a header past Andrés Esteban.

The Guardian - Sport

Khedira struck in the 66th minute when Paulo Dybala chipped the ball into the area and the Germany midfielder held off his marker and cleverly scored with a shot on the turn into the far corner.

The Guardian - Sport

It was from a second-half corner that Hamilton regained the lead as Canning held off his marker to head Redmond's deep delivery past John Gibson.

BBC

3.23am GMT 52 mins Altidore is forced wide in the box, but cuts back and holds off his marker to force an angle for the shot.

The Guardian - Sport

As anyone who watched him hold off his marker and put his shot away in the final might have observed, he has the Norwegian's coolness under pressure.

Independent

Scotland were now well on top, but Miller curled a shot centimetres wide after breaking clear and holding off his marker as the Republic survived to claim a hard-fought victory.

BBC

Later he'd reproduce the lines and colors and shapes with a firmly held pencil or marker in his own unsteady but accurate line, the copies always more capacious than the originals, the weather-pattern shapes, in particular, extending past the page: often he would attach several pages to one another with his masking tape, expanding the drawing surface as he went along.

The New York Times

From his diverse log of assignments, Thomas held two critical markers of experience.

The New York Times

They make the villagers act out the voting procedure, telling them that illiterate people can hold the marker pen in their fist and make any mark in the box of their choice.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions in sports or competitive scenarios, use "held his marker" to vividly illustrate how a player maintained their position or resisted an opponent's advance.

Common error

Avoid using "held his marker" in non-competitive or irrelevant situations; ensure the context involves maintaining a position or resisting an opponent's advance. Instead, use other phrases like "kept his score" or "maintained his tally".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held his marker" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to describe a player's action in sports. It illustrates the act of maintaining a position or resisting an opponent. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held his marker" is a grammatically sound verb phrase that describes maintaining a position or resisting an opponent, often in sports contexts. Ludwig confirms its correct usage. While the phrase is not overly common, it is versatile enough for various descriptive purposes. When writing, ensure the context clearly involves an action of resistance or positional maintenance to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintained his position

Focuses on positional stability rather than direct physical interaction.

warded off his defender

Highlights the defensive aspect of preventing an opponent from gaining advantage.

kept his adversary at bay

Emphasizes the act of preventing an opponent's advance or attack.

resisted the pressure from his opponent

Focuses on withstanding force or influence from another player or competitor.

fended off his challenger

Implies a reactive defense against a specific threat or challenge.

stood his ground against his marker

Highlights resistance and refusal to yield territory.

used his marker to indicate

Shifts the focus to the act of using a writing tool for indication.

possessed the pen

Focuses on the act of having ownership/possession of a writing tool.

clutched the marking implement

Emphasizes grasping a marking tool, often suggesting nervousness or determination.

gripped his scoring device

Focuses on tightly holding a device used for keeping score.

FAQs

How can I use "held his marker" in a sentence?

Use "held his marker" to describe a situation where someone maintained their position against an opponent or pressure, such as in sports or a competitive scenario. For example: "The player "held his marker" despite the defender's attempts to push him off the ball."

What does "held his marker" mean in a sports context?

In sports, "held his marker" typically means a player maintained their position or resisted the efforts of an opposing player who was marking or guarding them.

What are some alternatives to "held his marker"?

Alternatives include "maintained his position", "fended off his challenger", or "resisted the pressure from his opponent" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "held his marker" a formal or informal phrase?

"Held his marker" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly used in sports reporting or descriptive writing.