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
 HoldTake the batman into custody
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/həʊld/","/həʊldz/","/held/","/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/həʊld/","/həʊldz/","/held/","/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //teɪk ði ˈbætmən ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi//🇺🇸 //teɪk ðə ˈbætmən ˈɪntu ˈkʌstədi//
MeaningTo have something in your hands or arms.To put someone in police care.
ExamplePlease hold this book while I grab my bag.The police had to take the batman into custody after the incident.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsfirmly, securely, tightly, commonly, widely, deeplytake into custody, place in custody, hold in custody
Antonymsrelease, let go, drop-
Common mistakesConfused 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 notesUsed 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.

See it in real clips

Hold
Take the batman into custody

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.

Related comparisons