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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