withhold

ocultar, retener

Decidir no dar información, permiso u otra cosa que alguien pide.

En inglés sencillo: To choose not to give information, permission, or something else that someone wants.

• She withheld her name.
• The council has withheld permission for the new building.
• Why did you withhold those details from the police?

Cómo se usa: withhold something from someone (They withheld important information from us.)

Sinónimos: hold back, keep back

Antónimos: release

Expresiones frecuentes: withhold information, withhold consent, withhold someone’s name

retener

Quedarse con un objeto en vez de devolvérselo a su dueño.

En inglés sencillo: To keep an object instead of returning it to the person who owns it.

• The officer withheld my passport.
• They withheld her belongings until she paid the bill.
• The bank is withholding his card.

Cómo se usa: withhold something from someone (The landlord withheld the keys from their owner.)

Sinónimos: retain, keep

Antónimos: return

Expresiones frecuentes: withhold someone’s passport, withhold someone’s property, withhold someone’s documents

abstenerse

Contenerse y no hacer algo.

En inglés sencillo: To stop yourself from doing something.

• I shall withhold from speaking.
• He withheld from asking further questions.
• They chose to withhold from judging her actions.

Cómo se usa: withhold from doing something (She withheld from commenting on the dispute.)

Sinónimos: refrain, abstain

Expresiones frecuentes: withhold from speaking, withhold from asking