Meaning
To endure hardship patiently; to hold on and bear the strain through difficult times without giving up. 'Just hol strain' is said to encourage someone struggling — keep holding on, brighter days will come. It carries the deep Jamaican value of resilience: bearing your burden with patience and faith until things ease.
Examples
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Times hard, but just hol strain.
Times are hard, but just hold on and endure.
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Wi haffi hol strain till things betta.
We have to endure until things get better.
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Him a hol strain through di sickness.
He's holding on patiently through the illness.
Origin
From 'hold' + 'strain' (the burden); to endure hardship patiently. See [[wi-deh-yah]], [[coward-man-keep-sound-bone]].
How it’s used
To endure hardship patiently; 'just hol strain' = keep holding on. See [[wi-deh-yah]], [[tek-time]].