From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe stuck/held fastbe stuck/held fastMOVE something OR somebodyto become or be firmly fixed and unable to move The boat was stuck fast in the mud. She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast. → fast
Examples from the Corpus
be stuck/held fast• She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast.• She tried to struggle, but she was held fast.• Balor was struggling and writhing, but his limbs were held fast and only his thick, shapeless body could move.• A character who is held fast can not move or fight, and is treated as prone.• Persephone sprang into her arms and was held fast there. 