The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word CONTAIN
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
O
N
T
A
I
N
More clues leading to the result CONTAIN
- Unfortunately I cannot hold back
- Not unfortunately within murderer to hold back
- Hold murderer without leg restraint at last
- Accommodate party, one enthralled by Brown
- If it’s wrong, I cannot check
- Restrict murderer oddly not put inside
- Hold crushed tin can, nothing inside
- Prisoner — any of three from Al Jazeera in can, shut up
- Lunatic I cannot restrain
- Not in favour of having article in vessel’s hold
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "hold back" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hold back = contain.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CONTAIN mean?
CONTAIN verb- To hold inside.
- To include as a part.
- To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
- (of a set etc.) To have as an element or subset.
- To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.