If someone near to you says “hold tight”

[Timeforanewoneofthese]

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

It means just stay there.

[quote Timeforanewoneofthese]@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles. Interesting. I would guess that is regional?[/quote]
I don't think there's a whole region of the country using a mundane phrase I completely the wrong way unless the region is just your childhood home

@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?

It's funny (I never knew you said it in English as well), in french it's show ahead

@KineticSand
"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. "
This is the Hold Tight! I was thinking of.

It means pause for now. It could mean don't move for a moment but not move.

In that specific sense, it could mean "don't move - I'm coming through and want to avoid a collision", but really most people would say explicitly "stay there", or "don't budge"

I'd take it to mean just the opposite OP i.e stay where you are you're in exactly the right place.

My DH says that to any passengers when I'm driving...
I'd take it to mean hold on a moment or brace for something.

To me in the context you give, it means don't move/breathe in/keep out of the way.

In Norfolk we say 'hold you hard' instead though

Stay there don't move
Or
Hang on tightly

Never heard it in the context of needing to move. For me it would be either be on a ride at the fairground, or in a bumpy road with lots of turns. If someone in the street said it I'd think they wanted a hug and be bloody confused.

@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?

It means the exact opposite surely. Hold tight means stay still, don't move or hold on tight so you don't move/fall etc in a more literal sense

[quote SantanaBinLorry]@KineticSand
"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. "
This is the Hold Tight! I was thinking of. [/quote]
Kind of the same meaning though - people also say wait for it

@declutteringmymind

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

This would be my explanation as well.