Verb
hold firmly
be persistent, refuse to stop
hold the phone line open
stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments
retain possession of
Source: WordNetA noble person attracts noble people, and knows how to hold on to them. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The punctuation of anniversaries is terrible, like the closing of doors, one after another between you and what you want to hold on to. Anne Morrow Lindbergh
I smoke ten to fifteen cigars a day. At my age I have to hold on to something. George Burns
A desperate person will even hold on to a knife edge. Filipino Proverb
Hold on tight to the words of your ancestors. New Zealander Proverb
Who falls in the water will hold on to the foam to save himself. Russian Proverb