major holdup

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "major holdup" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant delay or obstruction in a process or situation. Example: "There was a major holdup in the delivery of the supplies, causing the project to be delayed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I think in the current environment securing the finances is the major holdup, and we don't have any indication as to the economics of the project".

The Guardian

But news accounts make it obvious that the major holdup now is bankers crying themselves a river, weeping, moaning, and gnashing their teeth.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Doran Street crossing has been one of the major holdups as Glendale aims to apply for quiet-zone status from the Federal Railroad Administration.

Los Angeles Times

From the CT images, major differences in local gas holdup are observed for different operating conditions.

Chemical Engineering Science

Highways England said it was removing more than 400 miles of roadworks from motorways and major roads in a bid to reduce holdups.

The Guardian

In a continuous plant, drums have a holdup of a few minutes and are located between major equipment to supply feed or accumulate product.

Chemical Process Equipment Selection and Design

A top Treasury Department official then sent an e-mail message to staff members that called it a "major screw-up" for the ambassador to explicitly acknowledge a connection between the holdup in development loans and American political concerns in Haiti.

The New York Times

But he conceded that the holdups, combined with widespread public outcry for action, have created a major "credibility problem for the tribunal". "Ever since I've been in office this has presented me with a tremendous feeling of urgency in getting things going on the one hand, but a refusal to compromise on standards of investigation on the other," he added.

Los Angeles Times

A busy rail station partially closed over the festive period owing to major engineering work fully reopened on Monday only for passengers to be hit by long holdups.

The Guardian

A reverse-phase HPLC analysis of the monkey plasma indicated that a major metabolite of [11C]TASP0410457 (the first peak in Fig. 6b) with a retention time corresponding to the holdup time was more polar than the parent compound (the second peak in Fig. 6b).

EJNMMI Research

The holdup?

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about projects or processes, use "major holdup" to clearly indicate a significant delay that is impacting progress. It is particularly useful when you want to emphasize the scale or impact of the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "major holdup" in highly formal or academic writing. While acceptable in news and general contexts, alternatives like "significant delay" or "critical impediment" may be more appropriate for those registers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major holdup" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a significant delay or obstruction. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase accurately describes a delay that has serious implications.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "major holdup" is a noun phrase used to describe a significant delay or obstruction. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and its primary usage in news and media contexts. While acceptable in general communication, more formal synonyms like "significant delay" or "serious obstruction" are preferable in academic or professional settings. Remember to use this phrase to emphasize the severity and impact of a delay in any given process or project.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant delay

Replaces "holdup" with a more general term for delay, suitable for formal contexts.

serious obstruction

Substitutes "holdup" with a term emphasizing blockage or impediment.

major setback

Focuses on the negative impact of the delay, highlighting the frustration it causes.

critical impediment

Highlights the hindering aspect with a more formal and stronger term.

primary obstacle

Emphasizes the role of the holdup as the main barrier.

chief hindrance

Synonymous with "primary obstacle" but with a slightly different connotation.

main stumbling block

Uses a more figurative term to describe the major impediment.

bottleneck

Emphasizes the constricting nature of the delay.

major snag

Informal alternative that highlights an unexpected problem.

considerable delay

Replaces "major" with "considerable" maintaining a formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "major holdup" in a sentence?

You can use "major holdup" to describe something that is causing a significant delay, such as "The financing issues represent a major holdup in the project's development".

What can I say instead of "major holdup"?

You can use alternatives like "significant delay", "serious obstruction", or "major setback" depending on the context.

Is "major holdup" a formal or informal phrase?

"Major holdup" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal phrase, suitable for news articles and general communication. More formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or official contexts.

What's the difference between "major holdup" and "minor delay"?

"Major holdup" indicates a substantial delay that significantly impacts progress, while "minor delay" refers to a smaller, less impactful delay.