robbery/hold-up

[magdalena]

What is the difference between a robbery and a hold-up? Is it that hold-up involves restraining the people by keeping them a a gun point while robbery does not have to involve the element of thread?

[MrPedantic]

Hello Magdalena,

I would say that "hold-up" is a subset of "robbery". A "hold-up" generally takes place on official premises, such as a bank or jewelry shop; or it involves vehicles in transit between such places; it also implies the use of firearms or at least weapons of some kind.

"Robbery" on the other hand can also include e.g. a confrontation in a dark alley, where someone relieves you of your valuables with the mere threat of a beating up.

Best wishes,

MrP

[magdalena]

I tolld my students that if someone runs up to you and snatches your bag away that's robbery but if they keep you at a gunpoint it's a hold-up. So my explanation was ok, thanks.

[MrPedantic]

I think those are good examples.

The sense of "hold-up" might be memorised by thinking of the passengers of a stagecoach with their hands held up in submission, as the perpetrators point their guns at them.

Best wishes,

MrP