- 1a situation in which something is prevented from happening for a short time synonym delay What's the hold-up? We should finish by tonight, barring hold-ups. (British English) Sorry I'm late. There was a hold-up on the motorway. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelengthy, traffic
- 2(also stick-up especially in North American English) an act of stealing from a bank, etc. using a gun a hold-up at the local supermarket Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivearmed, bank verb + hold-upcarry out
- 3hold-ups [plural] (British English) stockings that are kept up by having a band of material that can stretch at the top
Check pronunciation: hold-up
