hold a play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold a play" is not commonly used in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used when referring to organizing or staging a theatrical performance. Example: "The drama club decided to hold a play at the community theater next month."

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Hold a play.

WikiHow

If you want, hold a play with your Chipette/Chipettes involved, along with some of your other animal plushies!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The black floppy disk holds a play he wrote in college.

The New York Times

In his left hand, the boy holds a playing card, an ace of hearts.

Independent

And what if fans from the other team felt righteously inclined to hold a fair-play "dialogue" with each other?

The New York Times - Sports

A manifesto promise to hold a referendum played well with SNP enthusiasts, but must now feel like a millstone round Salmond's neck.

The Guardian - Opinion

It can't hold a conversation or play pub trivia.

TechCrunch

But a chip implanted in his brain has since allowed the 24-year-old to hold a cup and play a computer game -- at least in a laboratory setting.

Huffington Post

Think how someone would hold a die when playing a dice game.

WikiHow

Stretch your strings when they are first tuned, and keep doing it until your string hold a tune after playing a few strums Don't use liquid cleaners.

WikiHow

Mosley is scheduled to hold a discussion of the play at the theater on Jan . 14

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to staging a play, consider using more common alternatives like "stage a play" or "put on a play" for clarity and impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "hold a play" can sometimes sound awkward or less idiomatic. Ensure the context makes your meaning clear, or opt for a more common phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold a play" functions as a verb phrase, where "hold" acts as a transitive verb taking "a play" as its direct object. Ludwig identifies its purpose in the context of organizing a theatrical performance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hold a play" is grammatically acceptable, although less common than alternatives like "stage a play" or "put on a play". As indicated by Ludwig, it's used to describe the act of organizing and presenting a theatrical performance. Its register is neutral, and while understood, using more common alternatives often improves clarity. Consider using the proposed alternatives for greater impact and idiomatic correctness. According to examples from Ludwig, this expression appear more frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stage a play

Replaces "hold" with "stage", emphasizing the act of presenting a theatrical work.

put on a play

Substitutes "hold" with "put on", focusing on the production aspect.

organize a play

Replaces "hold" with "organize", highlighting the planning and management involved.

present a play

Replaces "hold" with "present", focusing on the act of showing the play to an audience.

produce a play

Changes "hold" to "produce", emphasizing the overall creation and management of the play.

mount a production

Alters the entire structure to focus on the theatrical production itself.

perform a play

Shifts the focus to the act of performing rather than organizing.

direct a play

Highlights the role of the director in staging the play.

host a play

Focuses on providing the venue or location for the play.

undertake a theatrical performance

Uses more formal language to describe the act of staging a play.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "hold a play"?

You can use alternatives such as "stage a play", "put on a play", or "organize a play" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hold a play"?

Yes, "hold a play" is grammatically correct, but it is not the most common or idiomatic way to express the idea of staging a play. Alternatives are generally preferred for clarity.

What does it mean to "hold a play"?

To "hold a play" means to organize, stage, and present a theatrical performance. It implies taking responsibility for the event.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "hold a play"?

It's appropriate to use "hold a play" when emphasizing the act of organizing or hosting the performance, but consider that phrases like "stage a play" or "put on a play" are more frequently used and understood.