hang
♦♦ hang /h'æŋ/ (hangs hanging hung hanged)
The form hung is used as the past tense and past participle. The form hanged is used as the past tense for meaning 5.
1 [VERB] V prep/adv, V-ing, V n prep/adv
If something hangs in a high place or position, or if you hang it there, it is attached there so it does not touch the ground.
Notices painted on sheets hang at every entrance...
...small hanging lanterns...
They saw a young woman come out of the house to hang clothes on a line.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
Hang up means the same as hang.
I found his jacket, which was hanging up in the hallway...
Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner.
2 [VERB] V adv/prep
If a piece of clothing or fabric hangs in a particular way or position, that is how it is worn or arranged.
...a ragged fur coat that hung down to her calves...
3 [VERB] V adj
If something hangs loose or hangs open, it is partly fixed in position, but is not firmly held, supported, or controlled, often in such a way that it moves freely.
...her long golden hair which hung loose about her shoulders...
4 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed with n
If something such as a wall is hung with pictures or other objects, they are attached to it.
The walls were hung with huge modern paintings.
5 [VERB] be V-ed, V, V pron-refl
If someone is hanged or if they hang, they are killed, usually as a punishment, by having a rope tied around their neck and the support taken away from under their feet.
The five were expected to be hanged at 7 am on Tuesday...
It is right that their murderers should hang...
He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital.
● hanging [N-VAR]
Four steamboat loads of spectators came to view a hanging in New Orleans.
6 [VERB] V prep/adv
If something such as someone's breath or smoke hangs in the air, it remains there without appearing to move or change position.
His breath was hanging in the air before him...
7 [VERB] V over n
If a possibility hangs over you, it worries you and makes your life unpleasant or difficult because you think it might happen.
A constant threat of unemployment hangs over thousands of university researchers...
8
see also hanging, hung
9 [PHRASE] V inflects: PHR n
If you get the hang of something such as a skill or activity, you begin to understand or realize how to do it. (INFORMAL)
It's a bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you tell someone to hang in there or to hang on in there, you are encouraging them to keep trying to do something and not to give up even though it might be difficult. (INFORMAL)
Hang in there and you never know what you might achieve.
11
to hang by a thread: see threadhang around
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P -ing, V P, V P n
If you hang around, hang about, or hang round, you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone. (INFORMAL)
He got sick of hanging around waiting for me...
On Saturdays we hang about in the park.
...those people hanging round the streets at 6 am with nowhere to go.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P together, V P with n, V P n
If you hang around, hang about, or hang round with someone or in a particular place, you spend a lot of time with that person or in that place. (INFORMAL)
They usually hung around together most of the time...
Helen used to hang round with the boys.
...the usual young crowd who hung around the cafe day in and day out.hang back
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you hang back, you move or stay slightly behind a person or group, usually because you are nervous about something.
I saw him step forward momentarily but then hang back, nervously massaging his hands.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n, V P
If a person or organization hangs back, they do not do something immediately.
They will then hang back on closing the deal...
Even his closest advisers believe he should hang back no longer.hang on
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If you ask someone to hang on, you ask them to wait or stop what they are doing or saying for a moment. (INFORMAL)
Can you hang on for a minute?...
Hang on a sec. I'll come with you.
= hold on
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you hang on, you manage to survive, achieve success, or avoid failure in spite of great difficulties or opposition.
Manchester United hung on to take the Cup.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P n
If you hang on to or hang onto something that gives you an advantage, you succeed in keeping it for yourself, and prevent it from being taken away or given to someone else.
The British driver was unable to hang on to his lead...
The company has been struggling to hang onto its sales force.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P n, V P
If you hang on to or hang onto something, you hold it very tightly, for example to stop it falling or to support yourself.
She was conscious of a second man hanging on to the rail.
...a flight stewardess who helped save the life of a pilot by hanging onto his legs...
He hangs on tightly, his arms around my neck.
= cling
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P to n
If you hang on to or hang onto something, you keep it for a longer time than you would normally expect. (INFORMAL)
You could, alternatively, hang onto it in the hope that it will be worth millions in 10 years time...
In the present climate, owners are hanging on to old ships.
6 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If one thing hangs on another, it depends on it in order to be successful.
Much hangs on the success of the collaboration between the Group of Seven governments and Brazil.
= dependhang out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you hang out clothes that you have washed, you hang them on a clothes line to dry.
I was worried I wouldn't be able to hang my washing out.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P adv/prep, V P
If you hang out in a particular place or area, you go and stay there for no particular reason, or spend a lot of time there. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
I often used to hang out in supermarkets...
We can just hang out and have a good time.
see also hangouthang round
see hang aroundhang up
1
see hang 1
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P, V P on n
If you hang up or you hang up the phone, you end a phone call. If you hang up on someone you are speaking to on the phone, you end the phone call suddenly and unexpectedly.
Mum hung up the phone...
Don't hang up!...
He said he'd call again, and hung up on me.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
You can use hang up to indicate that someone stops doing a particular sport or activity that they have regularly done over a long period. For example, when a footballer hangs up his boots, he stops playing football.
Keegan announced he was hanging up his boots for good...
4
see also hang-up, hung up
The form hung is used as the past tense and past participle. The form hanged is used as the past tense for meaning 5.
1 [VERB] V prep/adv, V-ing, V n prep/adv
If something hangs in a high place or position, or if you hang it there, it is attached there so it does not touch the ground.
Notices painted on sheets hang at every entrance...
...small hanging lanterns...
They saw a young woman come out of the house to hang clothes on a line.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
Hang up means the same as hang.
I found his jacket, which was hanging up in the hallway...
Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner.
2 [VERB] V adv/prep
If a piece of clothing or fabric hangs in a particular way or position, that is how it is worn or arranged.
...a ragged fur coat that hung down to her calves...
3 [VERB] V adj
If something hangs loose or hangs open, it is partly fixed in position, but is not firmly held, supported, or controlled, often in such a way that it moves freely.
...her long golden hair which hung loose about her shoulders...
4 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed with n
If something such as a wall is hung with pictures or other objects, they are attached to it.
The walls were hung with huge modern paintings.
5 [VERB] be V-ed, V, V pron-refl
If someone is hanged or if they hang, they are killed, usually as a punishment, by having a rope tied around their neck and the support taken away from under their feet.
The five were expected to be hanged at 7 am on Tuesday...
It is right that their murderers should hang...
He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital.
● hanging [N-VAR]
Four steamboat loads of spectators came to view a hanging in New Orleans.
6 [VERB] V prep/adv
If something such as someone's breath or smoke hangs in the air, it remains there without appearing to move or change position.
His breath was hanging in the air before him...
7 [VERB] V over n
If a possibility hangs over you, it worries you and makes your life unpleasant or difficult because you think it might happen.
A constant threat of unemployment hangs over thousands of university researchers...
8
see also hanging, hung
9 [PHRASE] V inflects: PHR n
If you get the hang of something such as a skill or activity, you begin to understand or realize how to do it. (INFORMAL)
It's a bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you tell someone to hang in there or to hang on in there, you are encouraging them to keep trying to do something and not to give up even though it might be difficult. (INFORMAL)
Hang in there and you never know what you might achieve.
11
to hang by a thread: see threadhang around
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P -ing, V P, V P n
If you hang around, hang about, or hang round, you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone. (INFORMAL)
He got sick of hanging around waiting for me...
On Saturdays we hang about in the park.
...those people hanging round the streets at 6 am with nowhere to go.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P together, V P with n, V P n
If you hang around, hang about, or hang round with someone or in a particular place, you spend a lot of time with that person or in that place. (INFORMAL)
They usually hung around together most of the time...
Helen used to hang round with the boys.
...the usual young crowd who hung around the cafe day in and day out.hang back
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you hang back, you move or stay slightly behind a person or group, usually because you are nervous about something.
I saw him step forward momentarily but then hang back, nervously massaging his hands.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n, V P
If a person or organization hangs back, they do not do something immediately.
They will then hang back on closing the deal...
Even his closest advisers believe he should hang back no longer.hang on
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If you ask someone to hang on, you ask them to wait or stop what they are doing or saying for a moment. (INFORMAL)
Can you hang on for a minute?...
Hang on a sec. I'll come with you.
= hold on
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you hang on, you manage to survive, achieve success, or avoid failure in spite of great difficulties or opposition.
Manchester United hung on to take the Cup.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P n
If you hang on to or hang onto something that gives you an advantage, you succeed in keeping it for yourself, and prevent it from being taken away or given to someone else.
The British driver was unable to hang on to his lead...
The company has been struggling to hang onto its sales force.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P n, V P
If you hang on to or hang onto something, you hold it very tightly, for example to stop it falling or to support yourself.
She was conscious of a second man hanging on to the rail.
...a flight stewardess who helped save the life of a pilot by hanging onto his legs...
He hangs on tightly, his arms around my neck.
= cling
5 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P to n
If you hang on to or hang onto something, you keep it for a longer time than you would normally expect. (INFORMAL)
You could, alternatively, hang onto it in the hope that it will be worth millions in 10 years time...
In the present climate, owners are hanging on to old ships.
6 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If one thing hangs on another, it depends on it in order to be successful.
Much hangs on the success of the collaboration between the Group of Seven governments and Brazil.
= dependhang out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you hang out clothes that you have washed, you hang them on a clothes line to dry.
I was worried I wouldn't be able to hang my washing out.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P adv/prep, V P
If you hang out in a particular place or area, you go and stay there for no particular reason, or spend a lot of time there. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
I often used to hang out in supermarkets...
We can just hang out and have a good time.
see also hangouthang round
see hang aroundhang up
1
see hang 1
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P, V P on n
If you hang up or you hang up the phone, you end a phone call. If you hang up on someone you are speaking to on the phone, you end the phone call suddenly and unexpectedly.
Mum hung up the phone...
Don't hang up!...
He said he'd call again, and hung up on me.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
You can use hang up to indicate that someone stops doing a particular sport or activity that they have regularly done over a long period. For example, when a footballer hangs up his boots, he stops playing football.
Keegan announced he was hanging up his boots for good...
4
see also hang-up, hung up