hang
23 ENTRIES FOUND:
- hang (verb)
- hang (noun)
- hanging (noun)
- hang–up (noun)
- hang glider (noun)
- hang time (noun)
- air (noun)
- dry (verb)
- fire (noun)
- hat (noun)
- let (verb)
- loose (adjective)
- minute (noun)
- moment (noun)
- peg (noun)
- shingle (noun)
- tale (noun)
- thereby (adverb)
- thread (noun)
- tight (adverb)
- together (adverb)
- tough (adjective)
- word (noun)
Britannica Dictionary definition of HANG
1
a
:
to attach or place something so that it is held up without support from below
—
see also hang up 2 (below)
[+ object]
-
He hung the painting on the wall.
-
We hung paper lanterns from the trees.
-
My grandmother used to hang the wash on a clothesline.
[no object]
-
A photograph of her family hangs on the wall.
-
Several of her paintings are hanging in the Museum of Modern Art.
-
Your coat is hanging in the closet.
-
The curtains hang all the way (down) to the floor.
b
[+ object]
:
to decorate (a surface) by hanging something (such as a picture) on it
— usually used as (be) hung
-
The walls are hung with paintings. [=there are paintings hanging on the walls]
c
[+ object]
:
to put (wallpaper) on a wall
-
They plan to hang wallpaper in the hallway.
2
[no object]
:
to be in a lowered position
-
He let his arm hang down into the water.
-
We hung [=leaned] over the side of the boat and waved.
-
Her hair hung loose/limply.
3
past tense and past participle usually
hanged
a
:
to kill (someone) by using a rope that goes around the neck and holds the person's body in the air without any support from below
[+ object]
-
They will hang him in the county jailhouse.
-
He was hanged for his crimes.
-
He hanged himself.
[no object]
-
He hanged for his crimes.
b
[+ object]
old-fashioned
— used to express surprise, anger, etc.
-
We need those supplies now, hang the cost! [=we need them no matter how much they cost]
-
I'll be hanged if I'll do anything to help him. [=I won't do anything to help him]
4
[no object]
:
to float over a place or object for a long time
-
Storm clouds were hanging low overhead.
-
Smoke hung above the crowd.
-
The smell of perfume hung in the air around her.
5
[no object]
— used to say that a decision has not yet been made
—
see also hung jury, hung parliament
-
The decision is still hanging.
6
[no object]
US, informal
:
to be or stay somewhere for a period of time without doing much
-
We were hanging [=hanging around/out] at Suzee's.
7
[+ object]
chiefly US, informal
:
to make (a turn) especially while driving
-
Hang a right at the stoplight.
8
[no object]
baseball, of a pitch
:
to fail to curve in the desired way
-
a hanging curveball
a peg to hang something on
hang around
[phrasal verb] informal or British hang about/round
1
hang around/about/round
or
hang around/about/round (a place)
:
to be or stay in a place for a period of time without doing much
-
We just hung around all afternoon, listening to music.
-
They hung around the theater after the play was over.
2
hang around/about/round with (someone)
:
to spend time relaxing, talking, or doing things with (someone)
-
She hangs around with older kids.
-
Who does he usually hang around with?
hang back
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to be or stay behind others
-
The little girl followed the older children but hung back a little.
2
:
to be unwilling to do something because of nervousness, fear, etc.
-
When there's work to be done, she doesn't hang back.
hang by a thread
:
to be in a very dangerous situation or state
:
to be very close to death, failure, etc.
-
The patient's life was hanging by a thread. [=the patient was very close to dying]
hang fire
chiefly British
:
to be delayed
-
The project has been hanging fire for several years.
-
The decision is hanging fire.
hang in
[phrasal verb]
1
chiefly US, informal
:
to keep working or trying in a difficult situation
— often used in the phrase hang in there
-
She says she'll hang in until she makes the business work.
-
She did her best to hang in against some of the more experienced swimmers.
-
Hang in there, kid! Don't quit!
2
hang in the air
:
to be incomplete or uncertain
-
The design of the new currency is still hanging in the air.
hang loose
hang on
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to keep happening or continuing
-
He had a terrible cold that hung on all spring.
2
:
to wait or stop briefly
-
“Can we go now?” “Hang on, I'll be ready in just a minute.”
3
hang on
or
hang on (to) (someone or something)
:
to hold or grip someone or something tightly
-
Hang on or you'll fall!
-
Hang on tight!
-
The children hung on his arm.
-
Hang on to your purse.
-
The children hung on to his arm.
4
hang on to (something)
:
to keep (something)
-
You should hang on to those old coins; they could be valuable.
5
a
hang on (something)
:
to be determined or decided by (something)
:
to depend on (something)
-
The decision hangs on one vote.
b
hang (something) on (something)
:
to base (a story, theory, etc.) on (something)
-
There weren't enough facts on which to hang a newspaper story.
-
You can't hang your case on her testimony.
6
hang on someone's every word
:
to listen very carefully or closely to (someone)
-
The children hung on the teacher's every word.
hang out
[phrasal verb]
1
informal
:
to be or stay somewhere for a period of time without doing much
—
see also hangout
-
The gang hangs out at the corner store.
-
Our dog spends all his time hanging out [=hanging around] on the front porch.
2
hang out with (someone)
informal
:
to spend time relaxing, talking, or doing something with (someone)
:
to hang around with (someone)
-
He spent a couple of days hanging out with his old friends.
3
hang (something) out
or
hang out (something)
:
to hang (something wet) outside to dry
-
I hung the laundry out on the clothesline.
-
I hung out the sheets to dry.
4
hang (someone or something) out to dry
informal
:
to leave (someone or something) in a helpless or unprotected state
-
When things got tough, the company hung us out to dry.
hang out your shingle
hang over
[phrasal verb]
hang over (someone)
:
to be a threat or danger to (someone)
:
to cause (someone) to feel worried or guilty
—
see also hangover
-
They are glad that the deadline is no longer hanging over them.
-
I can't relax with that test hanging over my head. [=I can't relax until after I take that test]
hang tight
US, informal
:
to wait before doing anything
-
Investors are being advised to hang tight until the stock market rebounds.
hang together
informal
1
:
to stay with someone
-
If we just hang together a while longer, I know that we can work out our problems.
2
:
to work in a logical and effective way
-
The movie starts out well, but the story doesn't hang together after the first hour.
hang tough
chiefly US, informal
:
to keep working or trying to succeed in a difficult situation
-
The team hung tough through the whole game, but lost in the end.
hang up
[phrasal verb]
1
hang up
or
hang up (something)
or
hang (something) up
:
to end a telephone connection by putting the handset on its base or by turning the telephone off
— often + on
-
“Is he still on the phone?” “No, he hung up.”
-
Let me talk to her before you hang up the phone.
-
I can't believe he hung up on me! [=that he suddenly hung up while I was talking to him on the phone]
2
hang (something) up
or
hang up (something)
:
to put (something) on a hook or hanger
—
see also 1hang 1a (above)
-
Hang up your coat, please.
3
hang up (something)
informal
:
to stop doing (something)
:
to finish using (something) for the last time
— used figuratively
-
She decided to hang up her running shoes [=she decided to quit running] and to start riding her bike instead.
4
hang it up
US, informal
:
to stop doing something
—
see also hung up
-
After all this time, you're just going to hang it up? [=quit]
hang with
[phrasal verb]
1
hang with (someone)
US, informal
:
to spend time with (someone)
-
He's just been hanging with his friends.
2
:
to stay close to (someone)
:
to keep up with (someone)
-
He hung with the leaders for the first half of the race, but then he began to fall behind.
hang your hat
hang your head
:
to have your head turned downward because of shame or embarrassment
-
He hung his head in shame.
let it all hang out
thereby hangs a tale
— used to suggest that there is a story about something that has just been mentioned
-
I realized where I had seen him before—and thereby hangs a tale.
2
hang
/ˈhæŋ/
noun
2
hang
/ˈhæŋ/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of HANG
[singular]
:
the way in which something hangs
-
the hang of a skirt
get the hang of
informal
:
to learn the skills that are needed to do (something)
-
He was finally getting the hang of his job. [=he was finally beginning to understand and become skillful in his job]
-
She's getting the hang of driving.
give a hang
informal
:
to be concerned or worried about something
— usually used in negative statements
-
I don't give a hang [=I don't care] what they say.
