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View synonyms for hold up

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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. to confess a mistake or misdeed

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Idioms and Phrases

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]

Obstruct or delay, as in We were held up in traffic . [c. 1900]

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]

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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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.

Jan Egeland blames what he calls "a bureaucratic, military, politicised quagmire" running "counter to all humanitarian principles" for the hold-up.

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Tuchel likely sees Bellingham as a number 10, aiming to utilise him in the same way he has used Rogers, hoping to get good ball progression, hold-up play and goals.

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Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo last season, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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His hold-up play was good but you've got to be able to score goals.

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"He even had a couple of other opportunities, half opportunities he took quite well as well. His movement, his hold-up play... he seems big, he seems strong."

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