hold up
[verb]
Synonyms:
- delay, detain, hinder, retard, set back, slow down, stop
- support, prop, shore up, sustain
- rob, mug (informal), waylay
[noun]
Synonyms:
- delay, bottleneck, hitch, setback, snag, stoppage, traffic jam, wait
- robbery, mugging (informal), stick-up (slang, chiefly U.S.), theft

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English Thesaurus: support, back, endorse, get behind somebody/something, stand up for somebody/something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

hold up phrasal verb (see also hold)

1. hold something ↔ up to support something and prevent it from falling down:
The roof is held up by massive stone pillars.

2. hold somebody/something ↔ up [usually passive] to delay someone or something:
Sorry I’m late – I was held up at work.

3. hold up something to rob or try to rob a place or person by using violence:
Two armed men held up a downtown liquor store last night. ⇒ hold-up

4. to not become weaker:
His physical condition has held up well.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˈhold-up noun [countable]

1. a situation that stops something from happening or making progress Synonym : delay:
traffic hold-ups on the highway
Despite the odd hold-up, we finished on time.

2. informal an attempt to rob a place or person by threatening them with a weapon Synonym : robbery:
a bank hold-up
⇒ hold up at hold¹

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

hold up
noun
I. robbery
ADJ. armed | bank VERB + HOLD-UP carry out

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

hold up
II. delay
ADJ. lengthy | traffic

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support to say that you agree with a person or idea, and usually help them because you want them to succeed:
We will support your decision.
Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the trial.
The tsunami appeal was supported by thousands of people.
back to support a person or plan by providing money or practical help – used about governments or other powerful groups:
The £100 million scheme is backed by the British government.
The people backing him do not have the interests of the club at heart.
endorse to formally and officially say that you support a person, plan, or idea:
Agriculture ministers refused to endorse the Commission's proposals.
get behind somebody/something to support a person or plan and help them be successful - used especially about a group of people:
The England fans really got behind the team.
I really believe in this initiative, but it was hard to find business people who were willing to get behind it.
The police can't do anything unless the public gets behind them.
stand up for somebody/something to say that you support someone or something when they are being attacked:
You were the only person who stood up for me at the meeting.
He stood up for what he believed in.
side with somebody to support one of the people or groups involved in an argument - used especially when you disapprove of this or think it is unfair:
I felt she was siding with her mother rather than standing up for me.
The jury often side with the defendant in these situations.
hold up to stop something from falling:
These poles hold up the outer part of the tent.
His trousers were held up by an old piece of string.
prop up to stop something from falling by putting something against it or under it:
The builders have propped up the walls with steel beams.
carry to support the weight of someone or something – used about something supporting several people, vehicles etc:
The bridge could only carry up to two cars at a time.
The lift can carry up to 12 people.
hold to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or something:
Are you sure the branch will hold both of us?
She prayed that the roof would hold her weight as she crawled along it.
bear literary or technical to hold the weight of something:
The truck did not look strong enough to bear the weight of all those people.
a load-bearing wall
take somebody's/something's weight to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or something:
His damaged leg would not take his weight.
Any large mirrors should have additional support to take their weight.
Make sure you choose a pole that will take the weight of your curtains.
have support
The extreme right-wing parties don’t have much popular support.
give (your) support (also lend (your) support formal)
The American people gave him their enthusiastic support.
The naturalist Sir David Attenborough has lent his support to the campaign.
pledge/offer (your) support (=say that you will support someone or something)
Both the opposition parties pledged full support for the new administration.
get/draw support
The plan drew wide support from parents.
win/gain/attract support
Try to win the support of local shopkeepers.
enjoy/command support formal (=have support)
His views were too extreme to command general support.
drum up/rally support (=get people’s support by making an effort)
Both sides have been drumming up support through the internet.
enlist sb’s support formal (=ask for and get their support)
He wrote to the Prime Minister in an attempt to enlist his support.
mobilize support (=get people to support something in an active way)
Part of their mission was to mobilize popular support for Franco.
build (up) support (=increase it)
Now he needs to build his support by explaining what he believes in.
withdraw support (=no longer support )
He's decided to withdraw his support for the project.
public/popular support
There seemed to be no popular support for war.
widespread/wide/general support
There is widespread support for the Government’s proposal.
strong support
A survey found strong support for the project among hospital staff.
massive support
We have massive public support.
sb’s full support
That view deserves the full support of all farmers.
whole-hearted/enthusiastic support
I want you to know that you have my whole-hearted support.
active support (=approval and help)
Les, with the active support of his wife Pam, has spent several years compiling a list of the prisoners.
unanimous support (=when all members of a group support something)
There was nearly unanimous support for the proposal.
help the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something:
Now that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework.
The book would never have been finished without his help.
assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
The project received financial assistance from the government.
Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
aid help. Aid is more formal than help, and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situation:
Aid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake.
The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.
Another driver stopped and came to his aid.
cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

hold up
hold up (someone/something)
1.
to delay someone or something.
Traffic was held up for several hours by the accident.

Sorry to hold you up, but my train was late.

2.
to try to steal from a person or place by using violence.
Two masked men held up the grocery store on my block.

They held her up at gunpoint.

3.
to offer someone or something as an example.
Her parents always held her sister up as the kind of person she should be.

1.
to continue to operate or be able to do things.
I hope the spare tire holds up until we can get to a garage.

She is holding up well despite her financial problems.

2.
to continue to seem true after being carefully examined.
The evidence may not hold up in court.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hold up something
hold up (someone/something)
1.
to delay someone or something.
Traffic was held up for several hours by the accident.

Sorry to hold you up, but my train was late.

2.
to try to steal from a person or place by using violence.
Two masked men held up the grocery store on my block.

They held her up at gunpoint.

3.
to offer someone or something as an example.
Her parents always held her sister up as the kind of person she should be.

1.
to continue to operate or be able to do things.
I hope the spare tire holds up until we can get to a garage.

She is holding up well despite her financial problems.

2.
to continue to seem true after being carefully examined.
The evidence may not hold up in court.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hold up
1. • hold up
1). keep up one's courage or spirits
Her spirits are holding up quite well even though she does not have a job now.

2). lift, raise
The students usually hold up their hands when they have a question.

3). prove true
Her story held up during the questioning by the police.

4). remain good, not get worse
Sales during the first six months of the year are holding up very well compared to last year.

5). rob at gunpoint
The criminal was able to hold up three people before he was caught.

6). stop, delay
The accident held up traffic for over three hours at the border crossing.

7). support, carry
The main beams in the house hold up the total weight of the house.

2. • hold up (as an example)
point to someone or something as a good example
The student was held up as an example of an honest and good person.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hold up
v.
1. To raise; lift.
John held up his hand.
2. To support; hear; carry.
The chair was too weak to hold up Mrs. Smith.
3. To show; call attention to; exhibit.
The teacher held up excellent models of composition for her class to imitate.
4. To check; stop; delay.
The wreck held up traffic on the railroad's main line tracks.
5. informal To rob at gunpoint.
Masked men held up the bank.
6. To keep one's courage or spirits up; remain calm; keep control of oneself.
The grieving mother held up for her children's sake.
7. To remain good; not get worse.
Sales held up well.
Our team's luck held up and they won the game.
The weather held up and the game was played.
8. To prove true.
The police were doubtful at first, but Tony's story held up.
9. To delay action; defer; postpone. Often used with "on".
The college held up on plans for the building until more money came in.
The President held up on the news until he was sure of it.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲