hold up

What does "hold up" mean?

1. To delay or slow down something
2. To remain strong or valid despite difficulty
3. To rob someone using threats or weapons
4. To raise or lift something
5. To support or keep something in position

Examples

• The accident held up traffic for two hours.
• His theory doesn't hold up under close examination.
• Two men held up the bank yesterday.
• Hold up your hand if you have a question.
• How are you holding up after the divorce?

How to use it

'Hold-up' (noun) means a delay or robbery. 'How are you holding up?' is a caring question about someone's emotional state during difficult times. Very common.

Word order

For delaying: separable ('hold traffic up'). For robbery: separable ('hold the bank up'). For emotional state: 'hold up' as intransitive.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• hold on

  To wait for a short time

• hold back

  To prevent someone or something from advancing

• hold off

  To delay doing something

• hold out

  To resist or survive in a difficult situation

• hold down

  To keep something at a low level

• hold together

  To remain in one piece without breaking