ADJ

firm, tight
He still had me in a tight hold

VERB + HOLD

catch, get, grab, grasp, seize, take
Take hold of the handle and give it a hard pull
have, keep
He kept a firm hold on my hand
lose
He lost his hold on the rock and was swept away by the tide
tighten
relax, release
She finally released her hold on me

PREP

~ on
He tightened his hold on her

ADJ

firm, powerful, strong, tight
He still has a firm hold on the party
increasing
fragile, tenuous, weak
Her hold on power was now quite tenuous

VERB + HOLD

have
lose
The allies lost their hold on northern France
consolidate, strengthen, tighten
Enemy forces have consolidated their hold on the northern province
break, weaken
an attempt to break the hold of the Church

PREP

~ on
This had weakened his hold on power
~ over
He no longer had any hold over her