Hold It Against Me – English Lyrics

• By: Britney Spears
• Album: JIVE Records

Lyrics & Translation

Unlock the rhythm of English with Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me." This dynamic dance-pop track is a masterclass in modern conversational English, featuring a catchy chorus ripe with playful double entendres. Immerse yourself in its assertive declarations and learn how to express desire and confidence, all set to an innovative beat that showcases Spears' enduring ability to push pop boundaries and tell her unique story.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
forgive /fərˈɡɪv/ B1	verb - to stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offence, flaw, or mistake
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to feel intense or passionate dislike for someone or something
stare /steər/ B1	verb - to look fixedly at someone or something with wide-open eyes
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
closer /ˈkloʊsər/ B2	adjective - at a small distance
whisper /ˈwɪs.pər/ B2	verb - to speak very softly
make /meɪk/ A1	verb - to create or form
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience a physical or emotional sensation
escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ B2	verb - to break free from confinement or control
want /wɑːnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for
body /ˈbɒd.i/ A2	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
paradise /ˈpær.ə.daɪs/ B2	noun - a place or state of supreme happiness
vacation /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ B2	noun - a period of time spent away from home for leisure
crazy /ˈkreɪ.zi/ B2	adjective - mentally deranged or very foolish

Key Grammar Structures

• If I'm coming on too strong

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (with conditional 'if')

  ➔ Uses the present continuous "am coming" to describe an action happening now, and the 'if' clause sets up a hypothetical situation. This conveys uncertainty about how the speaker's actions are perceived.

• Hate to stare but you're winning

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose, Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ "Hate to stare" uses the infinitive "to stare" to express the reason for hating. "You're winning" uses the present continuous "are winning" to indicate an action happening now.

• If I said my heart was beating loud

  ➔ Second Conditional (Type 2 Conditional)

  ➔ Uses "said" (past simple) in the 'if' clause and implies a hypothetical situation that is unlikely or contrary to fact. The result would be "Would you hold it against me?"

• If we could escape the crowd somehow

  ➔ Second Conditional (Type 2 Conditional)

  ➔ Uses "could escape" which is the past subjunctive/modal verb in the 'if' clause, expressing a hypothetical or unlikely situation. It's paired with the 'would' in the main clause ('Would you hold it against me?').

• Would you hold it against me?

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Main Clause, Type 2), Interrogative Form

  ➔ This is the main clause of a Type 2 conditional sentence. "Would" is used to express a hypothetical result, and the interrogative form turns the statement into a question about the listener's potential reaction.

• 'Cause you feel like paradise

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction ('Cause), Simile

  ➔ 'Cause is a shortened form of "because" and introduces the reason. "Feel like paradise" uses "like" to create a simile, comparing the feeling to paradise.

• Don't wanna wait, I want it now

  ➔ Contraction, Imperative (implicit), Present Simple Tense

  ➔ "Don't wanna" is a contraction of "do not want to". The first part has an implicit imperative force, while the second part uses the present simple to express immediate desire.