Meaning
To stand firm or compete well, keeping your ground.
Origin
From 14th-century England, tied to combat; 'hold your own' meant keeping rank, as in a 1375 poem on a stand. By 1540s slang, it hit general use, as in a 1590s play for grit.
Variants
- Hold the own
Usage Examples
- She held her own in the tough debate.
- He's holding his own against the pros.
- Hold your own; this job's a grind.