1 hang
Pronounced:
/ˈhæŋ/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
hangs; hung /ˈhʌŋ/ or in sense 3 hanged; hang·ing Meaning:
1 a : to attach or place something so that it is held up without support from below [+ obj] ▪ 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 obj] ▪ 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. —see also hang up 2 (below) b [+ obj] : 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 [+ obj] : to put (wallpaper) on a wall ▪ They plan to hang wallpaper in the hallway.
2 [no obj] : 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 [+ obj] ▪ They will hang him in the county jailhouse. ▪ He was hanged for his crimes. ▪ He hanged himself. [no obj] ▪ He hanged for his crimes. b 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 obj] : 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 obj] —used to say that a decision has not yet been made ▪ The decision is still hanging. —see also hung jury, hung parliament
6 [no obj] 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 [+ obj] chiefly US informal : to make (a turn) especially while driving ▪ Hang a right at the stoplight.
8 [no obj] baseball of a pitch : to fail to curve in the desired way ▪ a hanging curveball
2 [no obj] : 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 [+ obj] ▪ They will hang him in the county jailhouse. ▪ He was hanged for his crimes. ▪ He hanged himself. [no obj] ▪ He hanged for his crimes. b 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 obj] : 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 obj] —used to say that a decision has not yet been made ▪ The decision is still hanging. —see also hung jury, hung parliament
6 [no obj] 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 [+ obj] chiefly US informal : to make (a turn) especially while driving ▪ Hang a right at the stoplight.
8 [no obj] baseball of a pitch : to fail to curve in the desired way ▪ a hanging curveball
a peg to hang something on —see 1peg
hang around or Brit hang about/round
[phrasal verb] informal 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?
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.
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 Brit : 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 ▪ 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. —often used in the phrase hang in there ▪ 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.
2 hang in the air : to be incomplete or uncertain ▪ The design of the new currency is still hanging in the air.
hang loose —see 2loose
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.
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 ▪ The gang hangs out at the corner store. ▪ Our dog spends all his time hanging out [=hanging around] on the front porch. —see also hangout
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.
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 —see 1shingle
hang over [phrasal verb]
hang over (someone) : to be a threat or danger to (someone) : to cause (someone) to feel worried or guilty ▪ 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] —see also hangover
hang tight
[phrasal verb] US informal : to wait before doing anything ▪ Investors are being advised to hang tight until the stock market rebounds.
hang together
[phrasal verb] 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.
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 ▪ “Is he still on the phone?” “No, he hung up.” ▪ Let me talk to her before you hang up the phone. —often + on ▪ 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 ▪ Hang up your coat, please. —see also 1hang 1a (above)
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 ▪ After all this time, you're just going to hang it up? [=quit] —see also hung up
2 hang (something) up or hang up (something) : to put (something) on a hook or hanger ▪ Hang up your coat, please. —see also 1hang 1a (above)
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 ▪ After all this time, you're just going to hang it up? [=quit] —see also hung up
hang with [phrasal verb]
hang with (someone) US informal 1 : 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.
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 —see 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 —see 1let
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.