hold a trial—determine whether an accused person is guilty or innocent by a court of law:
- If he pleads guilty, there is usually no reason to hold a trial. The court has only to decide what the sentence will be.
hold court—
1. hold a session of a judicial assembly:
- While the court house was in process of repair the court was held in the basement of the Methodist Church.
2. is used of official receptions given by a ruler, etc.:
- In fact, Mary was the first princess of Wales, and the first female royal to hold court at Ludlow.
3. be surrounded by people who pay a lot of attention to the person:
- He was known to hold “court” with his fellow faculty members and engage them in endless scholarly conversation.