The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word FILIBUSTER
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result FILIBUSTER
- Obstruct clerk maybe storing one statue
- I may take vehicle through traffic light in attempt to obstruct legal passage
- Go on and on speaking of young girl and boy
- I break in to lodge by river and hold Bill up
- Obstruction tactic, if burliest characters are drunk
- Prolonged speech in the House? Fibs rule it out of order
- One with reserve retiring amid strain, delaying procedure
- Delaying tactic from one coach overcome by strain
- Subtle Independent got up to interrupt Republican if in turn he stalls
- One vehicle blocking directional traffic signal to obstruct progress
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "hold Bill up" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hold bill up = filibuster.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FILIBUSTER mean?
FILIBUSTER noun- A mercenary soldier; a freebooter; specifically, a mercenary who travelled illegally in an organized group from the United States to a country in Central America or the Spanish West Indies in the mid-19th century seeking economic and political benefits through armed force.
- (US politics) A tactic (such as giving long, often irrelevant speeches) employed to delay the proceedings of, or the making of a decision by, a legislative body, particularly the United States Senate.
- (US politics) A member of a legislative body causing such an obstruction; a filibusterer.
- To take part in a private military action in a foreign country.
- To use obstructionist tactics in a legislative body.