holding out for a short while; putting up resistance for a while; briefly holding one's own
Almost always used in negative constructions like ひとたまりもない or ひとたまりもなく, meaning 'without putting up any resistance' or 'easily defeated'. The word itself is rarely used independently.
See also: ひとたまりもない
The opponent was too strong, and I couldn't put up any resistance.
The argument collapsed without any resistance.
Standard kanji form, though the word is usually written in kana.
Kana spelling is the most common and recommended for learners.
Search-only variant; not recommended for active use.
Search-only variant; not recommended for active use.
Compound of 一 (ひと, 'one') and 溜まり (たまり, 'accumulation, pause'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but it likely refers to a single moment of holding out or a brief pause before giving in.