Hold Up: (6)

Grammar Tense Structure:

• Present Tense: hold / holds up
• Past Tense: held up
• Past Participle: held up
• Present Participle: holding up

1: When a structure supports the weight of something above it, such as a ceiling, it holds it up.

separable & non-separable phrasal verb

• There was a fatal accident when a pillar that was holding up the supporting wall collapsed.
• The accident happened when the pillar that was holding a supporting wall up collapsed.
  
• Are the supports strong enough to hold up the total weight of the building?
• Do you feel the supports are strong enough to hold the total weight of the building up?
  
• The collapsed wall was being held up by a few bricks and would come down at any moment.

2: If you cause a delay or prevent something happening, you hold it up.

separable & non-separable phrasal verb

• The fall out from Brexit has held up traffic on the motorway at Dover.
• The fall out held traffic up at Dover.
  
• He is late in handing in his work and is holding up the finalization of the project.
• He is holding the project up by handing in his work late.
  
• The lack of funds is holding up the company buy out.
• The lack of funds is holding the buy-out up.

3: Something that is causing a delay is known as a holdup.

noun

• The boss wants to know what the holdup is.
• There was a massive holdup at the border crossing due to strike action.

4: When someone robs a person, bank, or store, with a gun or other weapon, it is called a holdup.

noun

•  The bank holdup was over in a matter of minutes when the thieves gave themselves up..

5: If something remains strong, for example a belief, argument or clothing, it holds up.

non-separable phrasal verb

• These shoes were an excellent buy, I’ve worn them every day and they’ve really held up well.
• Most of Einstein’s theories have held up well over the years.
• The argument for unfair dismal held up in court and he was awarded substantial damages.

6: To show someone or something as an example for a specific or special treatment

separable & non-separable phrasal verb

• His attitude was held up as an example of how everyone should behave.
• They held his attitude up as an example of how to behave.
  
• The politician was held up for ridicule for all his lies.
• They held his ridicule up for all his political lies.