hold on to something—
1. keep one’s grip on smth.; not let go of smth.:
- The boy held on to the bush until someone climbed down the cliff to rescue him.
2. not give up the ownership of smth.:
- Letting your property enables you to hold on to your property and gain an additional income from rent.
3. (coll.) look after smth. which belongs to another person for a period of time:
- Will you hold on to this for me for a couple of days.
4. remain loyal or committed to ideas, principles, etc.:
- They hold on to these virtues with a rare tenacity.
hold to something—
1. = hold on to something 4:
- He could not switch beliefs just for the sake of a paycheck. His integrity demanded he hold to his convictions.
2. continue traveling in a certain direction:
- For half an hour the ship held to its course; then its bow swung in my direction. I had been sighted.