Hold-Up Play Meaning

(soccer, idiomatic) A play where an attacker retains possession of the ball, while the teammates can move up the field.

Example: 2011 January 19, Jonathan Stevenson, “Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal”[1], BBC:
  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.