Exercise: Choose the proper phrases in its appropriate form to fill each blank in the following sentences. hold out hold back hold down hold off ■ The dam was not strong enough to 1 the flood waters. ■ The rain 2 just long enough for us to have our picnic. ■ We can stay here for as long as our supplies 3 . ■ The people are 4 by a vicious and repressive military regime. ■ The forthcoming talks 5 the hope of real arms reductions.