To be ableto handle yourself in a fight or similar situation, with little or no help from anyone else.
"Big Al isn't a fighter, but if anyone ever provokes him, he'll be able to hold his own. I bet you can hold your own too, Jimmy."
By Emmalynn
Holding Your Own
See also: Hold my own. Most say it started out as meaning to stand your ground, to not let life, or anyone else for that matter, push you around. This is generally regarded to be the most likely, but more dull definition. But others have come to believe it means simply to cup your genitalia in your hand. This, frankly is wrong, but still mildly humourous.
"She is holding her own in this debate, don't you think?"
By Kerry
Hold Your Own Nuts
When someone is using you, your name, or your cause to advance their own agenda instead of standing on their own without you they are not "holding their own nuts" and are holding someone else's nuts. Telling someone to "hold your own nuts" mean to stand on their own two feet--not stand on the shoulders of others.
Similar saying: "Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps".
