Meaning trap

hold on to

keep something and not give or sell it to anyone else

to keep something and not let anyone else have it, often because it is valuable or important to you.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

keep something and not give or sell it to anyone else

to keep something and not let anyone else have it, often because it is valuable or important to you.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

I think I'll hold on to my old phone for a bit longer.

If I won a large amount of money, I would probably hold on to most of it instead of spending it right away.

One small grammar move makes it sound right.

Not: You should hold on it.

Say: You should hold on to it.

This sense needs 'to' — 'hold ON TO something'.

Tap the one a native speaker would say.

Words that usually travel with it.

hold on to + thing