Hold up a second

[Silver]

Hi,

I wonder if I can use "Hold up a second" to mean "hold on", "wait a minute", etc.

I learned this phrase many years ago from a movie, but I don't remember the name of it. It's an English movie.

I thought I asked this question in our forum but I actually didn't.

Much appreciated!

 

[sound shift]

I couldn't use it, Silver.

 

[Rover_KE]

It’s possible, Silver, but could confuse your friends/students, so I suggest you stick to ‘hold on’.
,

 

[Tegs]

I think it's an Americanism. I would say "hold on", but I wouldn't find "hold up" from an American confusing. Do you mostly use British English or American English? If you use American English then I think it's fine.

 

[exgerman]

Hold up a second means "don't move so fast, give me time to catch up". It refers to physical movement.

Hold on a second means "there seems to be a problem with your logic".

 

[JulianStuart]

Hold up a second means "don't move so fast, give me time to catch up". It refers to physical movement.

Hold on a second means "there seems to be a problem with your logic".

Not exclusively. I agree the "Hold up" version is less likely in a logic discussion, but "Hold on" can also mean "Please wait".

 

[Le Gallois bilingue]

“Hang on a sec’” works in BritE.

 

[elroy]

To me, they have the same meaning, but “hold up” is very informal and sociolectally marked. I think in most cases it would sound cringey from a non-native speaker.