holdup

American  

[hohld-uhp] / ˈhoʊldˌʌp /

noun

1. a forcible stopping and robbing of a person.

2. a stop or delay in the progress of something.

   There was a holdup in the construction of the bridge.

3. an instance of being charged excessively.

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Usage

What does holdup mean? A holdup is a delay or something that causes a delay.It’s frequently used in the phrase What’s the holdup?—meaning “What’s the cause of the delay?”Holdup can also refer to a kind of robbery, typically in which the robber takes a person’s money by stopping them and threatening them with a weapon, especially a gun. In this sense, a holdup is also called a stickup.In both cases, the word is sometimes spelled hold-up.The phrase hold up can be used as a verb meaning to delay, to cause a delay, or to rob someone in a holdup. (It also has several other meanings.)Example: I asked him what the holdup was, and he told me that he was waiting for the designer to deliver the images.

Etymology

Origin of holdup

1830–40, noun use of verb phrase hold up

Example Sentences

“He didn’t know what the holdup was in getting back to them on which university could be sued.”

From Salon

The report attributed the limbo to a variety of possible factors including indecision over whether to stay or go, holdups with insurance and financial instability.

From Los Angeles Times

But he also acknowledged such holdups arise because new wind and solar farms will need more transmission lines to carry their output.

From Salon

Deliveries are also delayed due to a holdup in supplies of General Electric's F-404 engines for the jets.

From BBC

So far, the only holdup has been finding young workers to train in a very old industrial craft.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• burglary
• mugging
• robbery
• theft