If someone near to you says “hold tight”

[Timeforanewoneofthese]

What do they mean? How do you understand this phrase?

My mum has always said “hold tight” if she wants you to move a little bit. Consequently we all have as well. Never really thought about it but wondered if it was regional.
I imagine she’s passing very close to you on a ship and warning you to hold tight to the railing as she does.
Her mother said it too.

Sorry, the question was precipitated by a friend of mine saying it didn’t make sense! Not just random thoughts.

@Timeforanewoneofthese

Interesting. So no one understands it to mean “move aside a little” “budge out the way”? Move, you are in the way? In that sense?

Definitely not this!!

I've heard it used as in "hold tight, coming through!" Eg when laden with trays/plates in a crowded room, you'd be expected to stand still/get out of the way, whichever is appropriate. But that's in very specific circumstances.

No never heard it used like that.

Yes @tattychicken that’s definitely the sense she means it in. I’m coming through, you’re slightly in my way so mind out.

Yes like the others, something in between brace yrslf and dont move til i say its ok

I think it might just be your Mum and Grandma.

My DP likes to shout "Hold Tight!" when listening/ dancing to drum n bass music, it means the beat is about to drop and the crazy dancing is about to start. It's really fun.

In other settings I think it means "hang on, something is going to happen soon" or "something a bit drastic is about to happen"

Well, in our house it would possibly mean;

Hold (the water melon) tight, (it is about to be sliced in half with a Samurai sword, as we're planning a salad this afternoon.)

My mum would say this as well. She'd mean breathe in while I squeeze past you.

No, it means to wait.

Is it I. The context ' you better hold tight then because if you don't move then I'll have to knock you over' ie you can't stop me

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles. Interesting. I would guess that is regional?

@HollowTalk yes that’s it! Although it took a broader meaning to generally mean, move, but only a bit. It is also good natured. Ill tempered would just be MOVE.
Needing to move more than a hold right is a mind out/mind out the way.

I think someone in your family must have misunderstood and now it has become family usage.

It reminded me of the phrase 'show behind' that was used in the kitchens of one of the restaurants I worked in, many moons ago, which meant 'Careful, someone behind you is coming past with hot plates' or similar.

Could be something like that maybe?

I know 'hold tight' to mean 'it's going to get bumpy' so hold onto something so you don't stumble. It's something I'd expect to hear on a bus for example.

@Qwill

Are you at Alton Towers?

a roller coaster popped straight into my head

Usually means the Chemical Bros are about to drop the big tunes.

Scream if you want to go faster?

@Shodan

It reminded me of the phrase 'show behind' that was used in the kitchens of one of the restaurants I worked in, many moons ago, which meant 'Careful, someone behind you is coming past with hot plates' or similar.

Could be something like that maybe?

I have never worked in a kitchen but I use "hot behind" in similar circumstances.

Are they military? In which case if it was a large group they could be asking you to squash in closer together with less space invetween ?

no op, its not regional. Its you (and yours). Time to stop saying it to others as it means the opposite to what you think it is and could cause serious problems.

posted too soon

We normally say "coming through " if we expect others to stay still/brace /move out of the way because we are carrying hot or heavy things