French Conversation · Level 146
30 words
French word
hold-up
Pronunciation
IPA/ɔldœp/
Meaning
- masculine nounrobbery
Example
La police a arrêté les auteurs du hold-up.
The police arrested the perpetrators of the robbery.
More examples
La banque a fermé après le hold-up.
The bank closed after the holdup.
Core concept
A public business is suddenly stopped by an armed thief demanding cash from staff and customers.
Common phrases
un hold-up
a holdup
commettre un hold-up
commit a holdup
Similar words
braquage: A robbery of a bank or shop using weapons to take cash or valuables.
vol à main armée: The act of taking valuables directly from people or businesses with a weapon.
cambriolage: Theft from an unoccupied home or building after breaking in.
vol: The unlawful taking of someone else's property.
Definition in French
Désigne un vol mené sous la menace ou avec l'usage d'armes, souvent perpétré contre des établissements recevant du public.
Word origin
French borrowed hold-up from English, where the noun comes from hold up meaning to rob by threat or force.
Usage tips
- French commonly uses faire un hold-up and commettre un hold-up for carrying out this crime.