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
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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.
So what is causing the hold-up?
From BBC
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.
From BBC
Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo last season, so strong hold-up play was necessary.
From BBC
His hold-up play was good but you've got to be able to score goals.
From BBC
"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."
From BBC
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.
