to hold somebody/something up = to delay somebody or something.
It is easy to use this phrasal verb as an alternative to the verb delay. e.g. I don’t want to hold you up = I don’t want to delay you.
We often use the phrasal verb in the passive (to be/get held up) when we want to focus on the person or thing that is delayed. e.g. I got held up at work.
We can also use this phrasal verb as a noun – a hold up, e.g. Sorry for the hold up, your drinks will be ready in the next couple of minutes.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Accent: Ireland
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Sorry I'm . I by the
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Sorry I'm . I got up by the .
Accent: Northern England
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I quick. I don't any longer.
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I to be quick. I don't to you any longer.
About the sentence
…I promise to be quick…
Notice the important verb pattern to promise to do sth, e.g. I can’t believe you were late again. You promised to be on time.
Accent: England (London)
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We've over . What's the ?
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We've waiting for an . What's the up?
About the sentence
…we’ve been waiting…
The present perfect continuous is used here to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, and also to emphasise the duration of this action. e.g. I’ve been reading this book for two months and I’m not even halfway through.
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This exercise:3 dictations
Accents:England (London), Ireland, Northern England
Good example Javier. I would say “I can understand how the other person feels“. Also, be careful with ‘shameful’ and ‘ashamed’ – these be false friends, so Spanish speakers need to be careful. In English, ‘shame’ is a strong word for how we feel when we’ve done something bad or morally wrong/socially unacceptable. When you use it in your example, it sounds too dramatic. A better word for your example would be ’embarrassing’. This is more appropriate than shameful because, although it isn’t good to be late, you haven’t done anything morally wrong. Imagine you have a job interview. If… Read more »
Gulnar
6 years ago
I got held up by work and I was late for my friend’s wedding party.
Irinka
6 years ago
Usually I never late. I consider myself punctual person. But once I was late to the work, because I got held up with havy rain
Good example Victoria. A useful expression for you might be “to be/get stuck in traffic”, e.g. “I was late for work because I got stuck in traffic again”.
I justo to be late in almost every meeting,date or even in my job. Because I got he’ll up with the chores or by kids
Well done Eli 🙂
When you say ‘justo’, I think you mean ‘used to’ which we use to talk about past habits or regular actions (e.g. I used to play tennis every week).
Also, be careful with the preposition after the phrasal verb – it will normally be ‘by’ (I got held up by chores/the kids).
Thanks!
It’s really shameful when I’ve been held up in the traffic and someone is waiting for me. I can undertand how feel other person.
Good example Javier. I would say “I can understand how the other person feels“. Also, be careful with ‘shameful’ and ‘ashamed’ – these be false friends, so Spanish speakers need to be careful. In English, ‘shame’ is a strong word for how we feel when we’ve done something bad or morally wrong/socially unacceptable. When you use it in your example, it sounds too dramatic. A better word for your example would be ’embarrassing’. This is more appropriate than shameful because, although it isn’t good to be late, you haven’t done anything morally wrong. Imagine you have a job interview. If… Read more »
I got held up by work and I was late for my friend’s wedding party.
Usually I never late. I consider myself punctual person. But once I was late to the work, because I got held up with havy rain
Good example Irinka. I’m impressed that you’ve only been late to work once! I’ve made a couple of corrections to your example below:
“Usually I’m never late. I consider myself a punctual person. But once I was late to work because I got held up by heavy rain.
Usually I’m held up by a traffic jam
Good example Victoria. A useful expression for you might be “to be/get stuck in traffic”, e.g. “I was late for work because I got stuck in traffic again”.