noun
1.
a situation in which sth is prevented from happening for a short time
SYN delay :
What's the hold-up?
We should finish by tonight, barring hold-ups.
( BrE )
Sorry I'm late. There was a hold-up on the motorway.
2.
(also ˈstick-up especially in NAmE ) an act of stealing from a bank, etc. using a gun