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Hhtt Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

detain v. delay v. confine

"The heavy traffic detained us for almost an hour." For a man in his car in the road.

I would like to ask which of the following are correct and idiomatic?

1) The heavy traffic delayed us for almost an hour.

2) The heavy traffic confined us for almost an hour.

Thank you.
  

Top answer

(1) is fine. (2) is unusual. It may appear wrong.

— GPY

  • (1) is fine.
  • (2) is unusual.
  • It may appear wrong.
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10 Answers
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(1) is fine.

(2) is unusual. It may appear wrong.
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hhtt2) The heavy traffic confined us for almost an hour.
That is not natural.

Usually "confined" means locked up in a room or restricted to a space. Our dog was confined to a fenced area in the back yard. Women used to be confined to their home during their pregnancy.

It can also mean "limited."
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hhtt"The heavy traffic detained us for almost an hour."
This as well as number 2, are strange and uncommon.
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AlpheccaStars .That is not natural.
What do you think about the original? I.e, the one using "to detain" ?

Thank you.
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hhttWhat do you think about the original? I.e, the one using "to detain" ?
It's OK, but not as common as "delay."
It sounds more formal.
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What do you think about this example which is formed intending to mean as the original.

"Heavy traffic held back us for an hour."

Thank you.
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"Heavy traffic held us up for an hour."
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Rover_KE"Heavy traffic held us up for an hour."
Is it the phyrasel verb "held up" instead of "held back" ?

Thank you.
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It's the phrasal verb 'held up'.
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hhttIs it the phyrasel verb "held up" instead of "held back" ?
"hold back" is also a phrasal verb, but it doesn't have the right meaning for this context.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hold_back
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