释义 |
hold someone/thing up1Support and prevent something from falling: concrete pillars hold up the elevated section of the railway...- The rooftop of the stables was a flat sheet of metal with wooden pillars to hold it up.
- As we were heading down on the platform, we noticed the third monorail track above the platform was held up by column-like supports with ivy wrapped around it.
- She realized one of the boards holding the mattress up had fallen.
Synonyms support, hold, bear, carry, take, sustain, keep up, prop up, bolster up, shore up, buttress 2Display something by holding it above one’s waist or head: he held up the book so she could see the cover...- Once on the plate smaller plates slide out to hold up the sleeves.
- Some are just sitting picking away at their work, others standing holding up their latest creations.
- Walking out I see Billie with a cheesey grin on holding up my crutches.
2.1Present or expose someone or something as an example or for particular treatment: they were held up to public ridicule...- York will be held up to the rest of the world as an example of hope for the future of the planet.
- The thing about broad generalizations made about a group of people is that if they are held up to scrutiny they are, more often than not, proved false at their very core.
- No diplomat anywhere is likely to turn the other cheek if his president is held up to ridicule in a public forum.
3Delay or block the movement or progress of someone or something: our return flight was held up for seven hours...- At Luxor airport seven flights were held up while two others were diverted to Cairo airport.
- If there is a thunderstorm in Chicago, all the flights in New York are held up.
- If I had been in that airport and my flight was held up because of these idiots, I would have cheered the police on as they arrested the couple.
Synonyms delay, detain, make late, set back, keep back, retard, slow down, slow up obstruct, impede, hinder, hamper, inhibit, baulk, thwart, curb, hamstring, frustrate, foil, baffle, be a hindrance to, interfere with, put a brake on, stop informal stymie British informal throw a spanner in the works of, put a spoke in the wheel of North American informal bork, throw a monkey wrench in the works of 4Rob someone or something using threats or violence: a masked raider held up the post office...- Two months ago we were held up by a gunman and the next day people thought we had made it up as a publicity stunt.
- In late September, three canoes carrying fishing supplies were held up by gunmen who seized all goods and abducted the 23 people on board.
- Kids are under enormous pressure to collect the whole set and it seems they will do so even if it means stealing them or holding someone up at knifepoint.
Synonyms rob, commit armed robbery on, make an armed raid on; waylay, mug, ambush informal stick up North American bushwhack Australian/New Zealand historical bushrange 5 Bridge Refrain from playing a winning card for tactical reasons. See parent entry: hold |