Cool MateHold it down vs Manage
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hold it down
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Manage
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most formal: ManageMost common: Manage
| Hold it down | Manage | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //həʊld ɪt daʊn//🇺🇸 //hoʊld ɪt daʊn// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmænɪdʒ/","/ˈmænɪdʒɪz/","/ˈmænɪdʒd/","/ˈmænɪdʒɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmænɪdʒ/","/ˈmænɪdʒɪz/","/ˈmænɪdʒd/","/ˈmænɪdʒɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To keep something under control or to remain calm. | To control or handle something. |
| Example | Even in tough times, he knows how to hold it down. | I need to manage my time better to finish my homework. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hold it down together, hold it down under pressure, hold it down well | effectively, efficiently, properly, be difficult to, be easy to, learn (how) to, nicely, perfectly well, very well, be able to, can, have to, on, without, manage on your own, nicely, perfectly well, very well, be able to, can, have to, on, without, manage on your own, nicely, perfectly well, very well, be able to, can, have to, on, without, manage on your own, nicely, perfectly well, very well, be able to, can, have to, on, without, manage on your own, effectively, efficiently, properly, be difficult to, be easy to, learn (how) to |
| Antonyms | lose control, panic | neglect, abandon, mismanage |
| Common mistakes | Using 'hold' with the wrong subject, e.g., 'She holds it down.' instead of 'They hold it down.', Confusing with 'hold down' which can imply physically keeping something in place., Overusing in formal writing where a more serious phrase is preferable. | Using 'manage' without an object, e.g., 'I manage.' without specifying what is being managed., Confusing with 'managing' when the present participle is not needed., Incorrectly using 'manage' as a synonym for 'administer' in non-administrative contexts. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to mean keeping a situation stable or staying calm under pressure. Not typically used in formal situations. | Commonly used in both professional and everyday contexts. Not usually used in highly formal situations. Avoid using when discussing passive or uncontrolled situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hold it down vs Manage
What's the difference between Hold it down and Manage?
Hold it down: To keep something under control or to remain calm. Manage: To control or handle something.
Which is more formal: Hold it down and Manage?
Manage is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Hold it down and Manage?
Manage is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hold it down: Even in tough times, he knows how to hold it down. Manage: I need to manage my time better to finish my homework.
Can I use Hold it down and Manage interchangeably?
Not always. Hold it down and Manage 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.