English Phrasal Verb: To Hold Up

To rob at gunpoint
To delay
To stay in good condition
To support something in a high position in order for it to be seen
To support someone or something to stop them from falling down

To Hold Up

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Example Sentences for the English Phrasal Verb Hold Up

1. The group held up a bank and stole $100,000.
2. Some cattle had escaped from a field and were holding up traffic on the road.
3. The teacher wanted the students to hold up their posters so everyone could see them.
4. When giraffes are born, their legs are normally not strong enough to hold themselves up.
5. Six months after the accident, Barbara called to see how Yi Lin's nerves were holding up.

The English phrasal verb, to hold up, is transitive and separable.

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English Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be extremely tricky for learners of English. The reason for this is twofold: there are lots of them and their meaning is not always obvious from the words that make them up. To make things even more difficult, phrasal verbs can have multiple meanings, adding to the headache for learners.

A phrasal verb is made up of a main verb with an attached preposition or adverb. An example of a phrasal verb is run into. Where run is the main verb and into is the preposition. Phrasal verbs can be separated into two groups, intransitive and transitive verbs. Intransitive phrasal verbs do not have a direct object: go out, for example, "I want to go out tonight". Transitive phrasal verbs have a direct object and they can be split up into two further categories: separable and inseparable. With separable transitive phrasal verbs, the verb and the preposition can be split up. For example, both “turn off the radio” and “turn the radio off” are both correct. Inseparable phrasal verbs cannot be split up. For example, “I’ll look after you” is correct, but “I’ll look you after” is not.

Using Storyboard That you can prepare a visual dictionary of phrasal verbs quickly and easily. Even better than that, have your students create their own phrasal verb visual definitions.