Hold out Common

thrust or extend out

"He held out his hand"

"point a finger"

"extend a hand"

"the bee exserted its sting"

stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

last and be usable

"This dress wore well for almost ten years"

wait uncompromisingly for something desirable

"He held out for the dessert and did not touch the cheeses"

continue to live and avoid dying

"We went without water and food for 3 days"

"These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America"

"The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents"

"how long can a person last without food and water?"

"One crash victim died, the other lived"

To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.