hold up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (Transitive):
- To support physically and prevent from falling: To bear the weight of something; to keep something in an elevated or upright position.
- To delay or cause to stop: To make someone or something late or cause a pause in progress.
- To rob using threats or force: To steal from someone or something (e.g., a bank) by using a weapon or intimidation.
- To present as an example: To show or offer something for others to see, often for admiration or scrutiny.
- To endure, withstand, or remain strong: To resist wear, damage, criticism, or difficult conditions over time.
Verb (Intransitive):
- To remain strong or intact; to endure: To continue to function or be valid despite pressure or challenges.
- To remain convincing or valid (often used negatively as "hold water"): For an idea, argument, or story to be logical and defensible.
Usage Examples
Verb (Transitive):
- The old pillars hold up the entire porch. (Physically support)
- An accident on the highway held up traffic for hours. (Delayed)
- Masked men tried to hold up the bank. (Rob)
- The teacher held up the excellent essay as a model for the class. (Present as an example)
- These boots have held up well through many winters. (Withstood wear)
Verb (Intransitive):
- How is your knee holding up after the surgery? (Enduring, remaining strong)
- His alibi doesn't hold up under police questioning. (Remain valid/convincing)
Advanced Usage
- "Hold up under scrutiny/pressure": To remain valid or intact when examined closely or stressed.
- The new evidence will hold up under judicial scrutiny.
- "Hold up one's end (of the bargain)": To fulfill one's part of an agreement or responsibility.
- I held up my end, but my partner didn't complete his tasks.
Variants and Related Words
- Hold-up (noun): A delay or a robbery conducted by threat of force.
- We experienced a hold-up on the train tracks. (Delay)
- There was a bank hold-up downtown. (Robbery)
- Uphold (verb): To maintain or support a principle, law, or decision.
- The court upheld the ruling.
Synonyms
- Support, bear, sustain (for physical support).
- Delay, detain, hinder (for causing a stop).
- Rob, stick up (informal) (for stealing by threat).
- Withstand, endure, survive (for remaining strong).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Hold out: To last, to endure; to offer; to resist.
- Our supplies should hold out for another week.
- Hold off: To delay, to keep at a distance.
- Let's hold off making a decision until tomorrow.
- Hold on: To wait; to grip tightly.
- Hold on a minute, I'll be right back.
Related Idioms
- Hold your head up (high): To be confident and unashamed, especially after a setback.
- Even though he lost, he can hold his head up knowing he did his best.
- Hold up one's hands: To admit responsibility or guilt.
- When the mistake was discovered, he held up his hands and apologized.
Verb
- resist or withstand wear, criticism, etc.
- Her shoes won't hold up
- This theory won't hold water
- resist or confront with resistance
- The politician defied public opinion
- The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear
- The bridge held
- continue to live through hardship or adversity
- We went without water and food for 3 days
- These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
- The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents
- how long can a person last without food and water?
- rob at gunpoint or by means of some other threat
- cause to be slowed down or delayed
- Traffic was delayed by the bad weather
- she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform
- hold up something as an example; hold up one's achievements for admiration
- be the physical support of; carry the weight of
- The beam holds up the roof
- He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
- What's holding that mirror?