Crossword Genius

Delay can be criminal! (4-2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hold-up

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'delay' is the definition.
(I know that delay can be written as hold up)

'be criminal' is the wordplay.
'be' becomes 'hold' (holding is a kind of being).
'criminal' becomes 'up' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'hold'+'up'='HOLD-UP'

'can' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hold-up that I've seen before include "Robbery with violence" , "Commit armed robbery or keep aloft" , "Situation causing delay" , "Delay or show aloft" , "A delay, or an armed robbery" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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