hold the L
verb
to admit being wrong or to accept defeat
What does hold the L mean?
The phrase hold the L can mean “to admit being wrong” or “to accept (literal or figurative) defeat.”
Examples of hold the L
... I gotta hold the “L” on listing Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs as a potential bust from last year’s draft. That guy is a stud and I know nothing.
—Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated, 2 May 2024
All fun and games until the banter gets returned. Booo hooo hooo, hold the L wankss 😘
—I never fw people making excuses TO the person they lost to though. I hold the L through rain, sleet, and snow. If you beat my ass you won
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Where does hold the L come from?
The L in hold the L stands for “loss,” as used in sports standings (where win is represented by W, natch). Hold the L may be considered a variant of the slightly older take the L, with the same meaning.
We took the ‘L.’We know that they’re a good team over there and we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game and we did, but they outscored us at the end of the day, so take the ‘L’ today and try to come back tomorrow and get that ‘W.’
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How is hold the L used?
Hold the L shows up a lot in sports contexts and media, but it is not used exclusively in sports. Often, hold the L is used imperatively to demand someone eat humble pie.
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