hold-up

noun

1. a robbery, esp an armed one
2. a delay; stoppage
3. an excessive charge; extortion
4. usually plural a stocking that is held up by an elasticated top without suspenders

verb

1. tr to delay; hinder

   we were held up by traffic

2. tr to keep from falling; support
3. tr to stop forcibly or waylay in order to rob, esp using a weapon
4. tr to exhibit or present

   he held up his achievements for our admiration

5. intr to survive or last

   how are your shoes holding up?

6. bridge to refrain from playing a high card, so delaying the establishment of (a suit)
7. hold up one's hands
   hold up one's hands to confess a mistake or misdeed

Example Sentences

Guys with a lot of muscle sometimes find it hard to hold up all that weight.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, Goostman is unable to hold up his end of the conversation.

From The Daily Beast

But a criminal case has been hard to develop that would hold up in court.

From The Daily Beast

Letterman, however, was oblivious to this—which certainly seems to hold up based on his frazzled reaction in this clip.

From The Daily Beast

If these results hold up—and they may very well—then we will have learned something very important about the early cosmos.

From The Daily Beast

Now let me hold up my Head a little, and then we shall see how far the Features hit me!

From Project Gutenberg

Had put on her Sunday gown, and had nothing to do now but hold up her head high, and sup her soup out of a silver spoon.

From Project Gutenberg

Ill never be able to hold up my head again if its not liked, Jess pursued.

From Project Gutenberg

Toward that pedal that sounded the hold-up alarm, flashing it right to local police headquarters.

From Project Gutenberg

The kind they turn off the assembly line to hold up the fronts of pool parlors.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• delay
• detain
• hinder
• impede
• interrupt
• stay
• stop
• suspend