to stick together / hold together
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to stick together
To be united as a group, family, or team, to support each other and remain loyal to one another, especially in difficult times.
In dieser Krise müssen wir als Familie fest zusammenhalten.
In this crisis, we as a family have to stick together.
to hold together
To connect two or more physical things or ensure that they stay connected.
Eine Büroklammer hält die losen Blätter zusammen.
A paper clip holds the loose sheets together.
'Zusammenhalten' (to stick together/hold together) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zusammen' comes at the end in a main clause, while in a subordinate clause it stays connected to the verb. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' comes between the prefix and the verb.
In schweren Zeiten halten wir immer zusammen.
In difficult times, we always stick together.
The word consists of 'zusammen' (together) and 'halten' (to hold). The meaning is quite literal: you 'hold' something or a group 'together' so that it does not fall apart—whether in a figurative or physical sense.
Ein gutes Team hält auch bei Problemen zusammen.
A good team sticks together even when there are problems.
In the figurative sense, 'zusammenhalten' (to stick together) is often used with groups. Typical phrases are 'als Familie zusammenhalten' (to stick together as a family), 'als Team zusammenhalten' (to stick together as a team), or with adverbs like 'fest' (firmly) or 'eng zusammenhalten' (to stick closely together).
Die Geschwister halten auch als Erwachsene noch eng zusammen.
The siblings still stick closely together even as adults.
You can recognize this physical meaning because the subject is often an object that connects something. This can be glue, a clip, a rope, or even hands.
Der Leim hält die Holzteile fest zusammen.
The glue holds the wooden parts firmly together.
to connect / to bandage
Verbinden usually emphasizes establishing a connection between parts. Zusammenhalten focuses more on ensuring that the parts do not fall apart or come apart afterward. A tool can therefore first verbinden the parts and then zusammenhalten them.
Der Metallwinkel hält die beiden Bretter auch bei starker Belastung zusammen.
The metal bracket holds the two boards together even under heavy strain.
Die Handwerkerin verbindet die beiden Bretter mit einem Metallwinkel.
The craftswoman connects the two boards with a metal bracket.
