HOLDING UP Meaning and
Definition
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Holding up is a phrasal verb that is commonly used in English. It can have several meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Generally, holding up refers to the act of supporting, propping, or maintaining something or someone in a stable position.
In a physical sense, holding up can mean providing support or carrying the weight of an object. For example, a pillar or a beam holding up a building ensures its structural integrity. Similarly, a person holding up a heavy box is preventing it from falling or collapsing.
Metaphorically, holding up can refer to remaining strong, resilient, or enduring in a challenging situation or circumstance. It can imply resilience in the face of difficulty or adversity. For instance, a person who remains positive and determined despite experiencing setbacks may be described as holding up well.
Additionally, holding up can be used to describe delaying or impeding progress or movement. For instance, traffic congestion on a highway can hold up vehicles and cause delays in reaching a destination.
In a social sense, holding up can also refer to presenting oneself in a dignified, respectable, or honorable manner. It implies maintaining one's reputation or status.
Overall, holding up can encompass multiple meanings that revolve around the ideas of support, endurance, resilience, delay, and dignity.
Common Misspellings for HOLDING UP
- golding up
- bolding up
- nolding up
- jolding up
- uolding up
- yolding up
- hilding up
- hklding up
- hllding up
- hplding up
- h0lding up
- h9lding up
- hokding up
- hopding up
- hooding up
- holsing up
- holxing up
- holcing up
- holfing up
- holring up
Etymology of HOLDING UP
The phrase "holding up" can have multiple meanings, depending on the context.
If you are referring to the verb phrase "holding up" meaning to support or sustain something, such as holding up a wall or holding up a heavy object, the etymology can be traced back to its literal interpretation. The word "hold" comes from Old English "healdan", which means "to grasp or retain", and "up" simply means "in a higher position".
However, if you are referring to the idiomatic expression "holding up" meaning to withstand, endure, or remain strong, the etymology is slightly different. This usage began to emerge in the early 19th century and likely originated from the figurative sense of the word "hold". In this context, "hold up" means to maintain one's position or condition, often despite difficulties or challenges.
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