We are holding the Algerian and French government

[azuki]

Hello everybody,

The following is an excerpt from the article, titled "Foreigners held hostage by militants in Algeria" appeared in the online-BBC news, Jan.16 2013.

"We are holding the Algerian and French governments, and the hostages' countries, entirely responsible for their slowness in satisfying our demands, foremost of which is an immediate halt to the aggression against our brothers in Mali," added the spokesman.

What does "hold" mean in the context? Does it mean "keeping"? I've looked up a dictionary, but none of definitions seems appropriate. Could anyone help this?

Thank you in advance,

Azuki

 

[RM1(SS)]

"We are holding them responsible." = "We believe that they are responsible."

 

[gramman]

Hi azuki

Hold has a lot of meanings, many of which are very similar and thus difficult (for me at least) to distinguish.

RM1(SS) is correct, and I wanted to point to some dictionary definitions that may be useful to you. There's:

used for saying what people believe

to have an opinion about something

Check out this page from The Macmillan Dictionary that includes the definitions I've listed.

 

[Beryl from Northallerton]

I agree with the above.

"We are holding the Algerian and French governments, and the hostages' countries, entirely responsible for... "

"We are holding them entirely responsible for... "

"We are holding them (entirely) responsible for... "


"We are holding them responsible for... " = "We consider them responsible for... " and in my opinion has some of the following senses mixed in:

"We maintain (that) they are responsible for... "

"We believe them to be responsible for... "

"We accuse them of being responsible for... "

 

[azuki]

Hi gramman,

The website you introduced above is very useful. It enables me more clearly understand the meaning. Thank you!

Azuki

 

[azuki]

Hi Beryl from Northallerton,

I see, thank you for your help!

Azuki

 

[azuki]

Hi RM1(SS),

Thank you for your help!

Azuki