hold up (/hoʊld ʌp/)
verb · Intermediate · Common Verbs
🔊 /hoʊld ʌp/
Meaning
Meaning: delay; support; rob
To delay someone or something, to support a weight, or to rob a place using force.
Examples
🗣 Sorry I’m late; I was held up in traffic.
Etymology
From ‘hold’ plus ‘up’, the idea of stopping or supporting something.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for delays and, separately, robberies.
Tags: phrasal-verb