Cool MateHold him down vs Secure
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hold him down
Top 2,000 (common)
Secure
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Secure
| Hold him down | Secure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //həʊld hɪm daʊn//🇺🇸 //hoʊld hɪm daʊn// | 🇬🇧 /["/sɪˈkjʊə(r)/","/sɪˈkjʊəz/","/sɪˈkjʊəd/","/sɪˈkjʊərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/sɪˈkjʊr/","/sɪˈkjʊrz/","/sɪˈkjʊrd/","/sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To keep someone in a position where they can't move. | To make safe or protect something. |
| Example | He had to hold him down during the scuffle to prevent him from escaping. | We need to secure the doors before we leave for the night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hold him down, hold someone down, hold down a person, hold down the situation | easily, safely, eventually, be able to, manage to, fail to, an attempt to secure something, an effort to secure something, be aimed at securing something, firmly, properly, tightly, to, with |
| Antonyms | - | danger, unsecure, risk |
| Common mistakes | Using 'hold down' without an object (e.g., saying 'hold down' instead of 'hold him down'), Confusing the physical act with emotional support (e.g., saying 'hold him down' when meaning 'support him'), Misapplying in non-physical contexts (e.g., saying 'hold him down' when discussing finances) | Confused with 'ensure' - 'ensure' means to make sure something happens., Using 'secured' as an adjective when it should be a verb., Misplacing the emphasis on the second syllable. |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts where someone needs to be restrained physically, often in emergencies. Avoid casual conversation. | Used to indicate making something safe, but can also mean to obtain or achieve something. More common in formal contexts when referring to safety and in neutral situations for obtaining. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hold him down vs Secure
What's the difference between Hold him down and Secure?
Hold him down: To keep someone in a position where they can't move. Secure: To make safe or protect something.
Which is more common: Hold him down and Secure?
Secure is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hold him down: He had to hold him down during the scuffle to prevent him from escaping. Secure: We need to secure the doors before we leave for the night.
Can I use Hold him down and Secure interchangeably?
Not always. Hold him down and Secure are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.