Cool MateHold up vs Pause
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hold up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Pause
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most formal: PauseMost common: Pause
| Hold up | Pause | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //həʊld ʌp//🇺🇸 //hoʊld ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/pɔːz/","/ˈpɔːzɪz/","/pɔːzd/","/ˈpɔːzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pɔːz/","/ˈpɔːzɪz/","/pɔːzd/","/ˈpɔːzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To stop or delay something. | To stop for a short time. |
| Example | Can you hold up for a moment? | Anita paused for a moment, then said: ‘All right’. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hold up a sign, hold up traffic, hold up someone | briefly, (for) a moment, momentarily, pause for breath, pause for thought, pause only long enough to do something |
| Antonyms | speed up, continue | continue, proceed |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hold back' which means to restrain., Incorrectly using it as 'held up by' instead of 'held up due to'. | Confusing 'pause' with 'cause' in pronunciation., Using 'paws' (like animal feet) instead of 'pause'., Incorrectly using 'pausing' as a noun instead of a verb. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversation; can be appropriate for situations involving delays or interruptions. Avoid in formal writing. | Used in both spoken and written language; appropriate in casual and formal settings. Avoid in very formal speeches where a more structured term may be needed. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hold up vs Pause
What's the difference between Hold up and Pause?
Hold up: To stop or delay something. Pause: To stop for a short time.
Which is more formal: Hold up and Pause?
Pause is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Hold up and Pause?
Pause is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hold up: Can you hold up for a moment? Pause: Anita paused for a moment, then said: ‘All right’.
Can I use Hold up and Pause interchangeably?
Not always. Hold up and Pause 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.