hold up

verb

1. cause to be slowed down or delayed

e.g. Traffic was delayed by the bad weather
she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform

Synonym: delaydetain

2. be the physical support of
carry the weight of

e.g. The beam holds up the roof
He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
What's holding that mirror?

Synonym: holdsupportsustain

3. hold up something as an example
hold up one's achievements for admiration

4. rob at gunpoint or by means of some other threat

Synonym: stick up

5. continue to live through hardship or adversity

e.g. We went without water and food for 3 days
These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents
how long can a person last without food and water?

Synonym: survivelastlivelive ongoendurehold out

6. resist or withstand wear, criticism, etc.

e.g. Her shoes won't hold up
This theory won't hold water

Synonym: stand uphold water

7. resist or confront with resistance

e.g. The politician defied public opinion
The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear
The bridge held

Synonym: defywithstandhold

1. 举起;抬起;提起
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.

hold up

e.g. She held up her hand stiffly...
她直挺挺地举着手。
e.g. Hold it up so that we can see it.
把它举起来让我们看看。

2. 支撑;支承
If one thing holds up another, it is placed under the other thing in order to support it and prevent it from falling.

e.g. Mills have iron pillars all over the place holding up the roof...
工厂里四处都立有铁柱支撑着房顶。
e.g. Her legs wouldn't hold her up.
她双腿都站不住了。

3. 耽搁;阻延
To hold up a person or process means to make them late or delay them.

e.g. Why were you holding everyone up?...
你为什么耽搁了大家？
e.g. Continuing violence could hold up progress towards reform.
持续的暴力活动可能会阻延改革的进程。

4. 持械抢劫
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.

e.g. A thief ran off with hundreds of pounds yesterday after holding up a petrol station.
一名窃贼昨天持械抢劫一家加油站后带着数百英镑逃跑了。

5. 举出…作为批评（或赞扬）的对象
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.

e.g. She said the picture that had appeared in a Sunday newspaper had held her up to ridicule...
她说一份周日的报纸上刊登的照片使她备受嘲讽。
e.g. He had always been held up as an example to the younger ones.
他总是被树为弟妹学习的榜样。

6. 维持;保持良好
If something such as a type of business holds up in difficult conditions, it stays in a reasonably good state.

e.g. Children's wear is one area that is holding up well in the recession.
童装是经济衰退中仍然保持良好发展的一个领域。

7. （论点、理论等）经受得住检验
If an argument or theory holds up, it is true or valid, even after close examination.

e.g. I'm not sure if the argument holds up, but it's stimulating.
我不能肯定该论点是否经得起检验，但它很有新意。

8. see also: hold-up