hold-up play

English

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Noun

hold-up play (plural hold-up plays)

1. (soccer, idiomatic) A play where an attacker retains possession of the ball, while the teammates can move up the field.
   • 2011 January 19, Jonathan Stevenson, “Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     Arsenal must have been pleased that Leeds' leading scorer Luciano Becchio was ruled out with a back injury and the hosts missed his hold-up play and threat for long periods as Wenger's side produced wave after wave of attack.