Question

Correct the underlined phrase with the appropriate phrasal verb:
Do not hold up your emotions, let it go.

• A. hold into
• B. hold back
• C. held back
• D. NO CHANGE

Answer 1

The correct option is B hold back

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with an adverb or preposition to provide a meaning different from the literal meaning of that individual verb. The underlined phrase 'hold up' means 'to delay something', emotions cannot be delayed, hence it isn't the relevant phrasal verb and option D is incorrect. 'Hold back' means 'to restrain oneself', to stop oneself from doing something; it's relevant to the given statement where the speaker tells the person not to restrain their emotions, hence option B is correct. 'Hold into' is not a phrasal verb and does not mean anything unless it's followed by a noun like 'hold into account', hence option A is incorrect. 'Held back' is the past tense of the phrase 'hold back', but the sentence is in the present tense, as the speaker suggests that the person should not hold back his emotions during the present time, hence option C is incorrect.