the reason why something fails and ends.

Computer-operated machinery has been seen as the death knell for traditional skills. (often + for)

• hold the line on something
• hold the purse strings
• hold the whip hand
• hold to
• hold tongue
• hold to ransom
• hold to something
• hold up
• hold up someone
• hold up something
• hold water
• hold with
• hold with doing something
• hold with something
• hold your breath
• hold your end up
• hold your ground
• hold your head high
• hold your head up high
• Hold your horses!
• hold your horses
• hold your own
• hold your tongue
• hole-and-corner
• hole card