hold a grudge

verb

To stay angry (at someone or something).

“That guy sure can hold a grudge when something goes wrong.”

Similar
bear a grudge
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Meanings

verbhold a grudge (third-person singular simple present holds a grudge, present participle holding a grudge, simple past and past participle held a grudge)

present singular third person holds a grudge · participle present holding a grudge · participle past held a grudge · past held a grudge

  1. idiomaticTo stay angry (at someone or something).

    That guy sure can hold a grudge when something goes wrong.

    2 more examples

    I made a mistake. That's not a good reason to hold a grudge against me.

    Jürgen Klopp accused the referee Paul Tierney of holding a grudge against Liverpool and of speaking out of turn during his team’s thrilling stoppage‑time victory over Tottenham.

    2023 April 30, Andy Hunter, “Jürgen Klopp accuses referee Paul Tierney of grudge after beating Spurs”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

    Synonyms: bear a grudge

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo stay angry (at someone or something).

Similar
bear a grudge
Also see
bear a grudge

Translations

Hungarian pikkel, neheztel
  • pikkelto stay angry
  • neheztelto stay angry
Polish żywić urazę, chować urazę
  • żywić urazęto stay angry
  • chować urazęto stay angry
Cite this entry
APA

hold a grudge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20a%20grudge

MLA

“hold a grudge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20a%20grudge. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hold a grudge,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20a%20grudge.

Source: hold a grudge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.