because of the particular situation.

Going to see the scene of the explosion was, under the circumstances, a really stupid thing to do.

The storm was very dangerous, so under the circumstances I think we were lucky to have had only one tree blown down.

Usage notes: also used in the form under those circumstances:

There is an ongoing investigation, and under those circumstances, it wouldn't be right for me to comment.

• hold someone at arm's length
• hold someone in check
• hold someone over
• hold someone's feet to the fire
• hold someone's hand
• hold someone to
• hold someone to ransom
• hold someone to something
• hold something against
• hold something against someone
• hold something back
• hold something in check
• hold something over
• hold sway
• hold the fort
• hold the key
• hold the line
• hold the line on
• hold the line on something
• hold the purse strings
• hold the whip hand
• hold to
• hold tongue
• hold to ransom
• hold to something