hold down

1. PHRASAL VERB : oft with brd-neg

If you hold down a job or a place in a team, you manage to keep it.

• He never could hold down a job.     
• Constant injury problems had made it tough for him to hold down a regular first team place.

2. PHRASAL VERB

If you hold someone down, you keep them under control and do not allow them to have much freedom or power or many rights.

• Everyone thinks there is some vast conspiracy wanting to hold down the younger generation.

... Cobuild