Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general excl. requesting a pause in either activity or speech.

1894		E.W. Rogers [perf. Vesta Tilley] The End of the Song 🎵 Hold up cocky! / Got the jim-jams once again?
1900		Marvel 15 May 14: Hold up! hold up, Mandy!
1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Dec. 15/2: ‘Hold up, Joe,’ said Williamson. ‘What’s the pore bloke done to you?’ ‘What’s he done?’ thundered Weigall. ‘What’s he done? That’s the –– –– –– knock-kneed bleeder that converted me!’.
1943		R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 221: ‘Here, hold up,’ He says, ‘Turn it in, me old china.’.
1957		G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 243: ‘Hold up, lady!’ cried Copper Baldwin, as she fainted in his arms.
1967		R. Conot Rivers of Blood 282: Baby Doe saw on a mannequin in the show window the most beautiful dress she had ever seen in her life—it was low cut, satiny white with sequins. ‘Hey, man!’ she said. ‘Hold up!’.
1977		G.F. Newman A Prisoner’s Tale 190: Hold up [...] ’Sthat deep enough, Mr. Evans?
1983		J. Sullivan ‘Wanted’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Hold up, they’re looking over here.
1999		Guardian 26 Nov. 37: ‘Hold up, Dazz, I didn’t know you’d done a video,’ says the bloke behind the counter.
2001		N. Green Shooting Dr. Jack (2002) 83: Hole up, hole up. Park over here.
2007		S. Maloney Sucked In 120: Hold up [...] It’s getting dark and looks like rain. Let’s not push it.