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
   to confess a mistake or misdeed

Example Sentences

“California deserves all the scorn it gets for holding up House election results,” screamed a headline last week in the New York Post.

From Los Angeles Times

Plans for an estimated 19,000 homes are being held up due to the restrictions - affecting construction in 23 towns.

From BBC

The crucial test: how do the predictions hold up in real life?

From Science Daily

“I have a hard time believing that you could hold up some sort of merger because of what ’60 Minutes’ did in one broadcast over one interview,” McCall said.

From Los Angeles Times

How did the 3D data model hold up in comparison to the human eye?

From Science Daily

Related Words

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