hold somebody up

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

ˌhold sb/sthˈup derived
often passive
1. to support sb/sth and stop them from falling
2. to delay or block the movement or progress of sb/sth
• An accident is holding up traffic.
• My application was held up by the postal strike.
related noun ↑hold-up
3. to use or present sb/sth as an example
•She's always holding up her children as models of good behaviour.
•His ideas were held up to ridicule.
Main entry: ↑hold_derived