Hi, guys!
I've got a question.
There are two phrasal verbs 'hold back' and 'hold up', in general I understand their meanings but sometimes I become a bit confused, for example, which way would be correct to say?
1. I'm sorry, I'm late. I was held up by the traffic.
1. I'm sorry, I'm late. I was held back by the traffic.
Or both ways are acceptable?
the difference between two phrasal verbs
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Re: the difference between two phrasal verbs
Not really the same.
hold up = delay
hold back = obstruct
I'm sorry, I'm late. I was held up by the traffic.
I'm sorry, I'm late. The traffic held me up.
But "hold sby back" is a deliberate obstruction and completely blocks you. For example:
After the accident, the police held us back and we had to wait until they finished clearing the road.
or
I wanted to enter my house but the soldiers held me back.
hold up = delay
hold back = obstruct
I'm sorry, I'm late. I was held up by the traffic.
I'm sorry, I'm late. The traffic held me up.
But "hold sby back" is a deliberate obstruction and completely blocks you. For example:
After the accident, the police held us back and we had to wait until they finished clearing the road.
or
I wanted to enter my house but the soldiers held me back.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood
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eBooks: English Prepositions List | Essential Business Words | Learn English in Seven
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Re: the difference between two phrasal verbs
Joe has already provided a perfect explanation.
I only want to add that englichclub has a great lists of phrasal verbs with samples
You can find them here:
https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/ ... s-list.htm
You also can also find lists of phrasal verbs with many samples of how to use them here:
www.usefulphrasalverbs.com
I only want to add that englichclub has a great lists of phrasal verbs with samples
You can find them here:
https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/ ... s-list.htm
You also can also find lists of phrasal verbs with many samples of how to use them here:
www.usefulphrasalverbs.com
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Re: the difference between two phrasal verbs
Joe wrote: ↑Sat May 25, 2019 12:56 pm Not really the same.
hold up = delay
hold back = obstruct
I'm sorry, I'm late. I was held up by the traffic.
I'm sorry, I'm late. The traffic held me up.
But "hold sby back" is a deliberate obstruction and completely blocks you. For example:
After the accident, the police held us back and we had to wait until they finished clearing the road.
or
I wanted to enter my house but the soldiers held me back.
Joe, thank you very much! You've explained it perfectly!
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Re: the difference between two phrasal verbs
phrasalverbs wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 8:57 am Joe has already provided a perfect explanation.
I only want to add that englichclub has a great lists of phrasal verbs with samples
You can find them here:
https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/ ... s-list.htm
You also can also find lists of phrasal verbs with many samples of how to use them here:
www.usefulphrasalverbs.com
Thank you very much!