up [ often passive ]
1.
to support sb/sth and stop them from falling
2.
to delay or block the movement or progress of sb/sth :
An accident is holding up traffic.
My application was held up by the postal strike.
—related noun hold-up
3.
to use or present sb/sth as an example :
She's always holding up her children as models of good behaviour.
His ideas were held up to ridicule.