Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding and Using 'Hold Up' Effectively

"To truly hold up under pressure is the mark of resilience; the world cannot break one who stands firm within their principles."

📖 Definition

Hold up can mean to support or sustain something physically or metaphorically. It can also refer to delaying or obstructing progress or actions.

Examples in context

The bridge held up under the weight of the heavy truck safely.
Her argument held up well against the criticisms during the debate.
Despite the bad weather, our spirits were held up by good company.

📖 Definition

Hold up can mean to support or sustain something physically or metaphorically. It can also refer to delaying or obstructing progress or actions.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

The object can go between 'hold' and 'up'.

Neutral

Used in both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

It requires an object that receives the action.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	hold up	They hold up the banner proudly.
Past Simple	held up	The traffic was held up by construction.
Present Continuous	holding up	He is holding up remarkably under pressure.
Present Perfect	have held up	They have held up their end of the agreement.

💡 When to Use

In emergency situations

Use when describing the action of sustaining or supporting during crises or stressful events.

Example: "The team held up well under pressure."

Describing delays

Use to describe when progress or movement is obstructed or delayed.

Example: "The accident held up traffic for hours."

Discussing endurance

Use to talk about the ability to endure or withstand difficulties or pressures.

Example: "She is holding up despite the challenges."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect object placement

❌ Wrong: Hold the meeting up at 5 PM.

✅ Correct: Hold up the meeting at 5 PM.

💡 Tip: Place objects after 'up' for clarity.

Confusing with 'held on'

❌ Wrong: He held on the project.

✅ Correct: He held up the project.

💡 Tip: 'Hold up' implies delay; 'hold on' means to wait.

Using passively

❌ Wrong: The plan was holded up.

✅ Correct: The plan was held up.

💡 Tip: Use 'held' as the correct past participle.

Practice

HOLD UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

The bridge held up under the weight of the heavy truck safely.
Urban Compact Living
2
Listen to example

Her argument held up well against the criticisms during the debate.
Urban Compact Living
3
Listen to example

Despite the bad weather, our spirits were held up by good company.
Urban Compact Living

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

withstand delay

Antonyms

collapse

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"The bad weather has ___ the flight schedules all day."

hold on

hold up

held off

held down

In Context

In 1929, during the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover faced the daunting task of stabilizing the American economy. As the stock market crash threatened to hold up recovery efforts, Hoover's administration sought various means to hold up the faltering financial institutions. In a bid to restore confidence, he urged businesses to maintain wages and public works to hold up employment. While his measures initially held up hope among the public, they ultimately fell short as unemployment soared and banks failed. By 1932, the public grew disillusioned with Hoover’s inability to hold up the economy, leading to his loss in the presidential election to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hoover's failure to hold up the American economy during his term cast a long shadow over his presidency, illustrating the challenges of leadership in times of economic turmoil.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Hold Up

What is the origin of hold up?

The phrasal verb 'hold up' dates back to the 15th century, derived from the Middle English phrases meaning 'to support' or 'to delay.' Its usage evolved through literature and colloquial speech to address maintaining structural integrity or experiencing delays.

Can hold up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'hold up' is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings, it might describe structural support or endurance, while informally, it commonly describes delays or obstructions in day-to-day events or plans.

What is the difference between hold up and delay?

'Hold up' encompasses the idea of supporting or obstructing, while 'delay' specifically relates to postponement. 'Hold up' can suggest a broader range of impediments beyond time, such as structural or psychological, whereas 'delay' focuses on time extension.

Browse All Tiny House Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

HOLD UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Hold Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega