Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) to withhold something from someone; to resist.

1903		A.H. Lewis Boss 106–7: The wise ones will figger that this captain held out on us.
1917		R. Lardner ‘Carmen’ in Gullible’s Travels 4: ‘Let’s see that paper a minute.’ ‘What for?’ says Hatch. ‘I didn’t hold nothin’ out on you.’.
1929		J. Lait Broadway Melody 19: Few performers ever hold out on their agents.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 197: I’ve got an extra pound. I was holding out on that chap.
1940		D. Maurer Big Con 198: Con men don’t hold out on their pals.
1959		C. Himes Crazy Kill 99: You’re holding out on me more than I’m holding out on you. I ain’t holding out on nothing.
1968		N. Heard Howard Street 135: She always held out money on him.
1973		F. Huelin ‘Keep Moving’ 146: ‘You rotten bastard, yous been holding out on us’.
1978		R. Caron Go-Boy! 231: Blackie decided to hold out on us by stuffing five thousand dollars from the suitcase into his shirt.
1985		N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 165: Mazzei was smart enough to call [...] to make sure we didn’t think he was holding out on us.
1993		I. Welsh Trainspotting 332: He knows he has to act. This means holding out on Spud.
2001		N. Barlay Hooky Gear 144: Dont give him nothin. But he know. He know I’m holdin out.
2012		W. Keyser ‘Carny Lingo’ in http://goodmagic.com 🌐 Hold Out, ‘H.O.’ — To steal from the boss by ‘forgetting’ to give him part of the cash.