hold-up
noun
a robbery, esp an armed one
hold-up
Britishnoun
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a robbery, esp an armed one
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a delay; stoppage
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an excessive charge; extortion
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(usually plural) a stocking that is held up by an elasticated top without suspenders
verb
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(tr) to delay; hinder
we were held up by traffic
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(tr) to keep from falling; support
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(tr) to stop forcibly or waylay in order to rob, esp using a weapon
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(tr) to exhibit or present
he held up his achievements for our admiration
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(intr) to survive or last
how are your shoes holding up?
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bridge to refrain from playing a high card, so delaying the establishment of (a suit)
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to confess a mistake or misdeed
hold up
Idioms
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Offer or present as an example, as in The teacher held Bernie's essay up as a model for the class to follow . [c. 1600]
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Obstruct or delay, as in We were held up in traffic . [c. 1900]
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Rob, as in He was held up in a dark alley, with no help nearby . This usage, which gave rise to the noun holdup for a robbery, alludes to the robbers' demand that the victims hold their hands high. [Late 1800s]
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Also, hold out . Continue to function without losing force or effectiveness, endure. For example, We held up through that long bitter winter , or The nurse was able to hold out until someone could relieve her . [Late 1500s]
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See hold one's head high .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Employment has also continued to hold up, consumer confidence is ticking higher, and new economic data has been largely benign, allowing strong earnings to take the stage.
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
Silver has not stated that the NBA would hold up any trade involving Leonard because of the investigation.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
But against the Los Angeles Clippers that night, it took the full 48 minutes for Beasley to hold up his end of the bargain.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Comcast said it expects the tax-free spin-off in approximately one year and that it will hold up to 19.9% of NBCUniversal at the outset.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026
A photographer got them all to hold up their signs and pose around me.
From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
