hold up

Meaning

In business contexts, this phrasal verb means to delay, block, or obstruct progress. It is often used in the passive voice ('get held up' or 'be held up') to explain why a project, decision, or meeting is running late.

Examples

• What is holding up the signing of the contract?

  What is holding up the signing of the contract?

• Sorry I'm late, I got held up in traffic on the way here.

  Sorry I'm late, I got held up in traffic on the way here.

• We can't let this minor issue hold up the entire product launch.

  We can't let this minor issue hold up the entire product launch.

• The legal department is holding up the deal because of some paperwork.

  The legal department is holding up the deal because of some paperwork.

• I don't want to hold up the meeting, so let's move to the next slide.

  I don't want to hold up the meeting, so let's move to the next slide.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The project was holded up by the budget cuts.

  ✓ The project was held up by the budget cuts.

  'Hold' is an irregular verb. The past participle form is 'held', not 'holded'.

• ✗ I don't want to hold on the team's progress.

  ✓ I don't want to hold up the team's progress.

  'Hold on' means to wait. To delay or block progress, use 'hold up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The bad weather might ___ our delivery by a few days.

  💡 Delay or slow down.

  Show answer

  hold up

• Please don't let this small issue ___ the entire launch.

  💡 Delay.

  Show answer

  hold up