held up

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Yesterday I read a sentence which comprise the expression “held up” with the humdrum meaning “delayed, postponed, or obstruct, cause to be slowed down or delayed ”

“Owing to the heavy rain traffic was held up for more than an hour.” and later on

“We were held up in traffic”

This morning I read another sentence with the same expression but with a different meaning.

Hold it up so that I can see it. (hold it high).

… and later on …

Hold up your head (keep your head up)

hold up one's head. Behave proudly; maintain one's dignity. For example,

After the bankruptcy Mr. Jones still held his head high (up), or

Grandma told Brian he could hold his head up because he'd tried extremely hard, or

After that newspaper article, I'm not sure I'll ever hold up my head again.

All these expressions allude to a posture of pride.

A few hours later I read another sentence.

The gangsters held up the bank. ( robbed the bank ) and

He was held up in a dark alley, with no help nearby.

Would you explain to me how can I get out of the wood?
Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

 

[riverkid]

Dear teachers,

...

Would you explain to me how can I get out of the wood?
Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

If, by that, you mean confusion surrounding the many nuances of 'hold up', Vil, then I suggest that, at most, you're close to exiting the woods. You've described these various meanings perfectly, AFAICS. All you need now, in order to take them from your passive vocabulary [understanding] to your active vocabulary [using them] is to practice them as often as you can in context.

 

[vil]

Hi Riverkid,

Thank you for your encouraging words. “you're close to exiting the woods.”…

You cast me for the principal part in my long and stubborn struggle with English language. “All you need now, in order to take them from your passive vocabulary [understanding] to your active vocabulary [using them] is to practice them as often as you can in context.”. Now something like yours AFAICS (As Far As I Can See). IIETSBATP. (It Is Easy To Say But Arduous To Play). But I have to try and find some way of winning this unequal battle. Solely in order to obtain my purpose I designedly try hard to transform it from beginning to end in a pleasant and interesting play.

Thank you also for your backing.

Regards.

V.

 

[Barb_D]

You seem to be doing really well with all of these. There's one more for you, though.

She was held up as an example of the type of people we want to hire.

(Used as a perfect example of something.)

How's this? :shock:
While we were help up in traffic because of the construction, someone came right up to my car with a gun and we were held up! Now, I hold this up as an example of why it's not safe to be in that part of the city anymore, but I can hold my head up, because it's not like any of this was my fault.

 

[vil]

Hi Barb,

Thank you for your striking inserting. Your first example “She was held up as an example of the type of people we want to hire” is close to the following sentence:

“The teacher held Bernie's essay up as a model for the class to follow.”

I know another curious meaning of that famous idiom namely “continue to function without losing force or effectiveness, endure” as in:

“We held up through that long bitter winter”

Your compilation at the end of your post is an evoking episode which might be developed into fiction beyond the limits of “descriptive set piece”. I was shacked at your intellectual faculties.

Thank you for your kindness.

Regards.

V.

 

[Barb_D]

Hi Vil,
You're right, I'm sorry - you did have that meaning already.

I think in pratice, we use "holding up" rather than "help up" for your most recent question. "How are you holding up, there, Sam? I know with your wife in the hospital it must be pretty hard."

Although if we were talking about Sam afterwards, we might say "Sam held up pretty well through the whole ordeal."

I can't figure out how to mix that into my little example, because it requires that it take place over time... oh well.

Nice job on your understanding of it all!

 

[vil]

Hi Barb_D,

Thank you for your attention to my works as well as for your kindness.

I would try to go on with your entertaining story:

"That will teach him (Sam) a good lesson. I would give him the following advice:" Heads up!" (a warning to watch out for potential danger, be fully allert and watchful!)

Regards.

V.

 

[susiedqq]

Vil - I'm glad you've held up after all that . . .