Cool MateDelay vs Hold up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Delay
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Hold up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: DelayMost common: Delay
| Delay | Hold up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈleɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈleɪ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //həʊld ʌp//🇺🇸 //hoʊld ʌp// |
| Meaning | To make something happen later than planned. | To stop or delay something. |
| Example | Due to the heavy traffic, there was a significant delay in our arrival time. | Can you hold up for a moment? |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | considerable, enormous, lengthy, series, be subject to, be plagued by, encounter, occur, without delay, delay in, delay of, considerable, enormous, lengthy, series, be subject to, be plagued by, encounter, occur, without delay, delay in, delay of | hold up a sign, hold up traffic, hold up someone |
| Antonyms | advance, hasten, expedite | speed up, continue |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'delay' with 'defer' — 'defer' is often more formal., Using 'delayed' incorrectly in tense — check verb forms for accuracy., Overusing 'delay' in casual speech when simpler options like 'wait' are available. | Confused with 'hold back' which means to restrain., Incorrectly using it as 'held up by' instead of 'held up due to'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'delay' when referring to postponing events or actions. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'wait' might suffice. | Used in casual conversation; can be appropriate for situations involving delays or interruptions. Avoid in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Delay vs Hold up
What's the difference between Delay and Hold up?
Delay: To make something happen later than planned. Hold up: To stop or delay something.
Which is more formal: Delay and Hold up?
Delay is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Delay and Hold up?
Delay is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Delay: Due to the heavy traffic, there was a significant delay in our arrival time. Hold up: Can you hold up for a moment?
Can I use Delay and Hold up interchangeably?
Not always. Delay and Hold up are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.