hold attention

hold (one's) attention

To keep one interested in or captivated by something. That show just doesn't hold my attention. Give the kids some toys—that should hold their attention for a while.
See also: attention, hold
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hold someone's attention

Fig. to keep someone's attention; to keep someone interested. The boring teacher could not hold the students' attention. The mystery novel held my attention and I couldn't put it down.
See also: attention, hold
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • hold (one's) attention
  • grip (one's) attention
  • turn (one's) mind to (something)
  • rivet (one's) attention (on someone or something)
  • rivet attention
  • riveting
  • attention
  • get (one's) attention
  • snap to
  • snap to (attention)
References in classic literature
Their usual main or only purpose is to hold attention by successions of marvellous adventures, natural or supernatural; of structure, therefore, they are often destitute; the characters are ordinarily mere types; and motivation is little considered.
Reese's stories hold attention in their determination to concentrate on momentary impressions, even at the expense of arriving somewhere definitive.
Like content producers, Web portals attempt to hold attention rather than direct it elsewhere on the Web.
The day after Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, I told editors that the story, unfortunately, would not hold attention for more than two or three days, so jaded was I with how Saudi's brutality had become normalised.
When they disappear, the storyline relies too much on unanswered questions to hold attention.
When they disappear, the storyline becomes greyer, and Ondaatje relies too much on unanswered questions to hold attention.
When they disappear, the storyline becomes greyer, relying too much on unanswered questions to hold attention.
Kim Jong Un has gone out of his way to make sure the North will hold attention throughout the games.
Adjacent to the lake is an amusement park where children play and have their share of fun and one of the sites that hold attention of the visitors is the newly constructed replica of legendary Assamese Ahom General Lachit Borphukan, who is known for his leadership during the famous battle of Saraighat, fought between the Ahom Kingdom and the Mughal Empire.
The screen is for visual treatments that capture and hold attention." Microsoft's own drop down on PowerPoint states, "What's everyone's favorite slide?
* HOW LONG Each dog is different but short sessions are better as they make it easier to hold attention and make progress.
The use of engaging colors has been shown to grab and hold attention and provides a welcome change from the drab tones of the custody environment.
In a world awash with eye-catching imagery, it takes something special to hold attention for more than just a few minutes.
How do marketers capture and hold attention in this age of fractured attention spans and user preference in allowing messages on handheld devices?
Yes, it's much easier to engage and hold attention in a conversation than in a monologue, but with some unforeseen pattern shifts, multi-screen engage- ment becomes a challenge.