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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

got held up vs held up

Hi.

What's the difference:

I'm sure your dad just got held up in the court again.

and...

I'm sure your dad (has) held up in the cour again.

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

In the sense of delay, hold up means delay, (for someone/something to) cause (someone) to be late, and get held up means be delayed, (for someone) be caused to be late (by someone/something). The court caused the delay; 'your dad' was therefore caused to be delayed (held up) by the court. So most likely your dad got held up in court .

— CalifJim

  • In the sense of delay, hold up means delay, (for someone/something to) cause (someone) to be late, and get held up means be delayed, (for someone) be caused to be late (by someone/something).
  • The court caused the delay; 'your dad' was therefore caused to be delayed (held up) by the court.
  • So most likely your dad got held up in court .
  • _______ [The less likely interpretation is that 'your dad' caused the court to be late/delayed in some way.
  • Under this strange interpretation you could say that your dad held up the court , but not that he held up in the court .
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2 Answers
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In the sense of delay, hold up means delay, (for someone/something to) cause (someone) to be late, and get held up means be delayed, (for someone) be caused to be late (by someone/something).

The court caused the delay; 'your dad' was therefore caused to be delayed (held up) by the court.

So most likely your dad got held up in court.
______
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AnonymousI'm sure your dad (has) held up in the court again.
I'm sure your dad (has) held up in (the) court again.

In this sentence, an entirely different meaning for 'hold up' is suggested. It might mean something similar to 'bear' or 'endure'.
Da
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