things were held up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things were held up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where progress or movement has been delayed or obstructed. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, things were held up, and we couldn't meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When it was proposed that the bridge be built, things were held up a considerable while over clouded property rights; when the work went ahead, even though nothing had been settled in a very clear-cut fashion.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Times last reviewed it in 1994, and it seemed time for a revisit, to see how things were holding up.

The New York Times

The customers know it's not your fault that things are held up; they might not be so forgiving if you seem to be slowing things down even more by losing your cool and making mistakes.

WikiHow

It is hard when you are so close to the finish line of a new launch, for example, not to feel frustrated that small things are holding up the process – but they always do.

Forbes

The whole thing is held up by a beefed up pallet.

TechCrunch

It's all the more amazing because the whole thing is held up by wood.

Los Angeles Times

We are anxious that things are being held up by our buyer's solicitor.

The Times

"The most controversial things will be held up by the Legislature," Mr. Cain said, "and the least controversial changes won't make that big a difference".

The New York Times

All sorts of things have been held up for years due to safety concerns before they (if they) ever get to the market.

Huffington Post

Supposedly, the one thing that's held up sending in the drones is the administration's desire to make sure the kill is "legal".

The Guardian - Opinion

How and whether we choose to have children is only the first of many things for which mothers are held up for inspection.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "things were held up", ensure the context clearly indicates what "things" refers to. Lack of clarity can lead to ambiguity.

Common error

While acceptable, "things were held up" can sound informal. In formal contexts, consider using more precise and professional alternatives like "progress was delayed" or "the project was impeded".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things were held up" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an unspecified subject ("things") experienced a delay or obstruction. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used. The structure highlights the result of an action rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "things were held up" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express that something has been delayed or obstructed. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While versatile, it’s important to ensure clarity regarding what "things" refers to. Alternatives like "progress was delayed" or "matters were stalled" may be more appropriate in formal contexts. Its widespread presence across various news sources indicates general usage, albeit with a slightly informal tone compared to strict professional or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progress was delayed

Focuses directly on the delay of progress without specifying what "things" are.

matters were stalled

Emphasizes a complete halt in progress, suggesting a standstill.

developments were postponed

Highlights the act of deferring something to a later time.

actions were suspended

Implies a temporary cessation of activities.

the process was hindered

Focuses on something actively impeding forward movement.

the project was impeded

Highlights that an specific project was stopped.

everything came to a standstill

Focuses on a complete stop of all activity or progress.

there were setbacks

Indicates unexpected impediments or reversals in progress.

operations were disrupted

Suggests that operations were interrupted and not working correctly.

events were deferred

This alternative underlines the act of delaying events to a future date.

FAQs

What does "things were held up" mean?

The phrase "things were held up" means that progress, actions or events have been delayed or obstructed. It suggests that something has caused a temporary or prolonged stop in the expected course of events.

What can I say instead of "things were held up"?

You can use alternatives like "progress was delayed", "matters were stalled", or "developments were postponed" depending on the context.

Is "things were held up" grammatically correct?

Yes, "things were held up" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice correctly to indicate that certain unspecified "things" experienced a delay.

What is the difference between "things were held up" and "things were delayed"?

"Things were held up" often implies an obstruction or external force causing the delay, while "things were delayed" is a more general term that indicates a later timing without necessarily implying a cause. The difference is subtle, but "held up" suggests something actively prevented progress.