Hold vs Take the batman into custody
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hold
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Take the batman into custody
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Hold
| Hold | Take the batman into custody | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/həʊld/","/həʊldz/","/held/","/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/həʊld/","/həʊldz/","/held/","/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk ði ˈbætmən ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi//🇺🇸 //teɪk ðə ˈbætmən ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi// |
| Meaning | To have something in your hands or arms. | To put someone in police care. |
| Example | Please hold this book while I grab my bag. | The police had to take the batman into custody after the incident. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | firmly, securely, tightly, commonly, widely, deeply | take into custody, place in custody, hold in custody |
| Antonyms | release, let go, drop | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'held' in past tense forms., Using 'hold' when referring to emotional support instead of 'support'., Mistakenly used as 'hold on' in formal writing. | Confused with 'take' + noun and 'take' + infinitive., Using 'custody' without context about arrest., Mixing up 'batman' as a character rather than a person. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in very formal writing for physical holding; instead, use 'grasp' or 'clutch.' | This phrase is often used in law enforcement contexts. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings when discussing arrests or detainment. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hold vs Take the batman into custody
What's the difference between Hold and Take the batman into custody?
Hold: To have something in your hands or arms. Take the batman into custody: To put someone in police care.
Which is more common: Hold and Take the batman into custody?
Hold is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hold: Please hold this book while I grab my bag. Take the batman into custody: The police had to take the batman into custody after the incident.
Can I use Hold and Take the batman into custody interchangeably?
Not always. Hold and Take the batman into custody 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.