hold it!

[keannu]

A : You said you had something terrible to tell me. What's up?
B : It's not that bad, but I heard Phoebe cheated on her boyfriend.
A : Hold it! Did you say Phoebe cheated on Brian? How come?

Hold it! Let me see your hands!

Like in these two cases, "hold it" is used,
Do police officers say "hold it" to criminals in crime scene? I learned they say "Hold up!", "Freeze!", etc.

 

[emsr2d2]

They certainly don't say "Hold up!" They might shout "Hands up!" to make the suspect put their hands above their head. "Hold it!" simply means "Stop what you're doing" in that context. In the context of your original scenario, it's an indication of surprise, a little like saying "Wait a minute!/Hang on! What did you just say?"

 

[keannu]

I think "Hold up!" Is used to make a suspect to freeze by the police. I definitely read this expression in a few writings. Has it evolved to a different expression these days?

 

[GoesStation]

They say "Hands up! Freeze! Put your hands in the air!"

"Hold up" is sometimes used casually in American English instead of "Wait a second." A hold-up is a delay.

 

[probus]

I think "Hold up!" Is used to make a suspect to freeze by the police. I definitely read this expression in a few writings. Has it evolved to a different expression these days?

Back in the days of the black and white Hollywiod movies of the thirties and forties, fictional police officers often said "hold it", or "hold up." But GoesStation is right; all it means is "stop what you are doing."

 

[andrewg927]

"Hold up" would be more appropriate if you are trying to catch a friend. Police would more likely say "hands up" or "hold it."