1.
If you hold up your hand or something you have in your hand, you move it upwards into a particular position and keep it there.
She held up her hand stiffly...
Hold it up so that we can see it.
PHRASAL VERB : V P n (not pron) , V n P
2.
If one thing holds up another, it is placed under the other thing in order to support it and prevent it from falling.
Mills have iron pillars all over the place holding up the roof...
Her legs wouldn’t hold her up.
PHRASAL VERB : V P n (not pron) , V n P
3.
To hold up a person or process means to make them late or delay them.
Why were you holding everyone up?...
Continuing violence could hold up progress towards reform.
= delay
PHRASAL VERB : V n P , V P n (not pron)
4.
If someone holds up a place such as a bank or a shop, they point a weapon at someone there to make them give them money or valuable goods.
A thief ran off with hundreds of pounds yesterday after holding up a petrol station.
= rob
PHRASAL VERB : V P n (not pron) , also V n P
5.
If you hold up something such as someone’s behaviour, you make it known to other people, so that they can criticize or praise it.
He had always been held up as an example to the younger ones.
PHRASAL VERB : be V-ed P as n , also V n P as n
6.
If something such as a type of business holds up in difficult conditions, it stays in a reasonably good state.
Children’s wear is one area that is holding up well in the recession.
PHRASAL VERB : V P
7.
If an argument or theory holds up , it is true or valid, even after close examination.
I’m not sure if the argument holds up, but it’s stimulating.
= stand up
PHRASAL VERB
8.
see also hold-up