get held up

USAGE SUMMARY

"get held up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean being delayed in some way. For example: "We got held up in traffic and were late for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Will the pills get held up in customs?

The New York Times

They never need to do anything twice, they never get held up on lines or online.

The New York Times

As well as the naturally slower pace of writing, the letters get held up a lot.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This means that small proposals get held up indefinitely, as agencies face a backlog of submissions.

The New York Times

It can be jolly inconvenient for the three people who might get held up behind you.

The Guardian - Books

What he produces from said concept is traditionally more patchy, quality-wise, but let's not get held up here.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"It got held up in a committee.

The Guardian - Books

"Oh, I hope he gets held up at third!

The New Yorker

"He's got held up on the M3.

The Guardian

Everywhere you look, you're getting held up out there".

The New York Times - Sports

He repeatedly got held up at the line and stalled in his routes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "get held up" to describe unexpected delays or hindrances that prevent someone or something from reaching a destination or completing a task on time.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in passive constructions that obscure the cause of the delay. For example, instead of saying "The package was got held up", say "The package got held up at customs".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "get held up" is as a phrasal verb, functioning as the predicate of a clause. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "get held up" is a common phrasal verb used to describe an unexpected delay or obstruction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with neutral formality. Related phrases include "be delayed" and "encounter setbacks". When using this phrase, ensure the tense is correct and avoid passive constructions that obscure the cause of the delay. Remember, "get held up" is a versatile phrase for describing those moments when plans go awry due to unforeseen circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be delayed

Focuses on the state of being late or postponed.

run into delays

Similar to 'be delayed' but emphasizes unexpectedness.

be detained

Implies a more formal or official delay, often by authorities.

be stalled

Suggests a sudden or complete cessation of progress.

be caught up

Indicates being involved in something that causes delay.

be stopped

Emphasizes the action of ceasing movement or progress.

be bogged down

Implies being slowed down or stuck in a difficult situation.

be kept waiting

Highlights the experience of waiting due to someone else's delay.

face obstruction

Highlights facing resistance or barriers.

encounter setbacks

Focuses on facing obstacles that impede progress.

FAQs

What does "get held up" mean?

The phrase "get held up" means to be delayed or obstructed, often unexpectedly, preventing progress or arrival as scheduled.

How can I use "get held up" in a sentence?

You can use "get held up" to describe delays, such as: "I "got held up" in traffic and missed the beginning of the meeting" or "The shipment "gets held up" at customs frequently".

What's a more formal way to say "get held up"?

More formal alternatives to "get held up" include phrases like "be delayed", "be detained", or "encounter setbacks", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "got held up" instead of "got delayed"?

Yes, ""got held up"" is a common and acceptable way to say "got delayed" in many contexts, particularly when describing unexpected delays. Both phrases are grammatically correct but "get held up" often implies an external cause for the delay.