🌟 Hold One’s Own, To ✊
Definition: To stand one’s ground successfully against attack, competition, or some other pressure. The “own” here refers to one’s position or advantage.
History and Usage: This idiom has been anchoring our language since the sixteenth century. By the nineteenth century, it had firmly planted its roots as a cliché. Winston Churchill famously rallied the British during World War II with this phrase: “Let me, however, make this clear. . . . We mean to hold our own. I have not become the King’s First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.” James Patterson echoed this stoic stance in his thriller, London Bridges (2004), with the line: “A decision had been made not to abandon the building, to hold our ground.”
Similar Terms:
- To hold one’s ground: Maintain one’s position in the face of opposition.
- Stand one’s ground: Refuse to change one’s position despite pressure.
- Hold the fort: Manage affairs temporarily in someone else’s absence or during challenging times.
Examples in Literature:
- London Bridges by James Patterson - “A decision had been made not to abandon the building, to hold our ground.”
- “Wuthering Heights,” Emily Brontë - Characters are constantly having to hold their own against the harsh landscape and each other.
Inspirational Quotes:
- “Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” - James A. Michener
- “The best way out is always through.” - Robert Frost
Notable Mentions:
Proverbs:
- “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
- “Stand firm as a rock in the face of adversity.”
Movies:
- Rudy (1993) - The underdog story of Rudy Ruettiger holding his own against insurmountable odds.
- Braveheart (1995) - William Wallace fiercely holds his own to fight for Scotland’s freedom.
Books:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Characters like Atticus Finch show incredible resilience and steadfastness.
- Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - The tale of holding one’s own against nature’s fiercest challenges.
Songs:
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor - An anthem for holding one’s own in the face of fierce competition.
- “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba - “I get knocked down, but I get up again.”
Inspirational Thought for the Road: 🌅 “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” - Anaïs Nin
💫 Stand firm, dear reader, for the world respects those who hold their own.💫
