hold (someone or something) dear

hold (someone or something) dear

To consider someone or something to be very valuable or important, especially at a personal level. Even though this old pocket watch doesn't work anymore, I still hold it dear as it was the last thing my grandfather ever gave me. I consider myself a pretty gregarious person, but there are only a few people I truly hold dear. We purport to hold these values dear, but our actions contradict them.
See also: dear, hold
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hold somebody/something ˈdear

(formal) feel that somebody/something is of great value: He laughed at the ideas they held dear.
See also: dear, hold, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • hold somebody/something dear
  • investment
  • recoup
  • recoup (something) from (someone or something)
  • recoup from
  • tell the time
  • keep good time
  • pocket pool
  • put (one's) hand into (one's) pocket
  • any old thing