keep+hold+of
131hold up — also holdup, hold up, late 13c., “to keep erect;” 1837 as “to delay.” The verb meaning “to stop by force and rob” is from 1887, from the robber s command to raise hands. The noun in this sense is from 1851 …
132keep\ one's\ nose\ to\ the\ grindstone — • keep one s nose to the grindstone • have one s nose to the grindstone • hold one s nose to the grindstone v. phr. informal To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring or tiresome work. Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves as… …
