The phrase "haddest hold up on" may seem perplexing at first glance, but it actually follows the rules of early modern English. The word "haddest" is the past tense form of "have" and is pronounced /ˈhædɪst/. "Hold up" means to delay, and "on" is used as a preposition, meaning "regarding." When spoken together, "haddest hold up on" can sound like "had-ist hull-duh-pawn." This archaic phrase is not commonly used in modern English, but understanding its pronunciation can help decipher old texts.