keep him held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep him held" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express maintaining someone's grasp or control over another person, but it is better to use more conventional phrasing. Example: "In order to ensure his safety, we must keep him held until the authorities arrive."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"What happened before, when prosecutors pre-empted Mubarak's release with new charges to keep him held under Morsi, is a mockery," Mr. Abu Bakr said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Espinoza says his children -- he also has a 9-year-old daughter -- are all that keep him holding on.

The New York Times

The continuing pain keeps him from holding any job, Mr. Robinson said last week, and he and his wife and two children live on his disability pensions.

The New York Times

George and his sister live with his Uncle Damascus Eddie Rousee), whose anger keeps him from holding a job and whose hatred of animals makes George nervous.

The New York Times

(Amis wasn't really a satirist, like Lodge and Bradbury; he was a master of comic outrage — a different thing. The violence of the indignation keeps him from holding still long enough to actually observe his targets' manners).

The New Yorker

(Amis wasn't really a satirist, like Lodge and Bradbury; he was a master of comic outrage a different thing. The violence of the indignation keeps him from holding still long enough to actually observe his targets' manners).

The New Yorker

The Dutchman knew that Glen Johnson had kept him onside and held his position to turn in a cross-cum-shot from Wayne Rooney in the seventh minute.

The Guardian - Sport

She kept looking at him, holding her smile.

The New Yorker

I would humiliate opponents to the point where they would yell, 'Why are you embarrassing me?' " An obsession with handball led him to drop out of Theodore Roosevelt High School at 16, and it would keep him from holding a steady job through his late 30s.

The New York Times

Hand-shaking kept him from getting hold of a first forkful of pasta and salad, and from talking to his table companion, Lee Strasberg's widow, Anna, who was trying to tell him about her new grandchild.

The New Yorker

Hall had been arrested on drug charges in Newport News, Virginia, and an immigration hold kept him from bail.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and conciseness, consider using alternatives like "keep him restrained" or "keep him detained", as they are more common and direct.

Common error

Avoid using "keep him held" in formal writing where precision is crucial. Opt for more established phrases like "detain him" or "restrain him" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep him held" functions as a verb phrase, where "keep" acts as a linking verb indicating a state or condition maintained over time. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is not standard and can sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

9%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "keep him held" refers to maintaining someone in a state of captivity or restraint. While understandable, Ludwig AI indicates it's not the most standard or elegant phrasing. Grammatically acceptable but not ideal, it appears mostly in news and media contexts. For more formal writing, consider using alternatives like "keep him restrained" or "detain him" for clarity and precision. The phrase's communicative purpose is to emphasize the continued holding or prevention of release.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep him restrained

Focuses on physically limiting someone's movement.

keep him detained

Suggests temporary holding, often by authorities.

hold him in custody

Implies official detention by law enforcement.

keep him captive

Emphasizes confinement and loss of freedom.

keep him confined

Highlights restriction to a specific space.

hold him prisoner

Emphasizes the captive state from the perspective of the captor.

keep him imprisoned

Highlights the state of being in prison or a similar confinement.

keep him under control

Focuses on maintaining authority over someone.

prevent his release

Focuses on stopping someone from being freed.

maintain his captivity

Stresses the continuation of a captive state.

FAQs

What does "keep him held" mean?

The phrase "keep him held" generally means to maintain someone in a state of captivity, restraint, or detention. It implies preventing someone from being released or freed.

What are some alternatives to "keep him held"?

You can use alternatives such as "keep him restrained", "keep him detained", or "hold him in custody" depending on the specific context.

Is "keep him held" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "keep him held" is not the most grammatically elegant phrase. It's more common and stylistically preferable to use alternatives like "keep him restrained" or "keep him detained".

In what contexts can I use "keep him held"?

The phrase "keep him held" can be used in contexts where you want to emphasize maintaining someone's grasp or control over another person, but it is better to use more conventional phrasing for clarity. Consider more direct phrases such as "detain him" or "restrain him".