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to hang

to hang

487 2.7
To hold on tightly so you do not let go
  • verb
  • /hæŋ/
: agarrarse a
  • Can you hang on to my backpack while I tie my shoes?

But then it's clear this man is just hanging on to hope.

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Examples

  • Christina was too tired even to hang onto a crayon, let alone design something.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I hope you're not going to hang around here all day, like those good-for-nothings.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Some of them might hang on a little bit too.

  • Oh, oh, wait, hang on, hang on.

  • But then it's clear this man is just hanging on to hope.

  • Willie, hang on to that.

  • For a minute, I tried to hang onto the drops, save them for the right place.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • And he hangs on to that term for years.

  • That's how we hang onto the best parts of our lives, Allen.

  • And I said to the policewoman, hang on a minute, they're victims.

Synonyms

to stick
vsto hang
∞ 3.5

To stay loyal to someone or a group

is about physical tenacious grip to avoid letting go rather than mere persistence
to cling
vsto hang
230 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

is more general, focusing on firm grasp rather than emotional attachment
to hold onto
vsto hang
196 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

emphasizes staying attached physically or emotionally, not just possession
to hold on
vsto hang
145 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

is focused on steady tenacious holding rather than brief action
to cling to
vsto hang
135 3.3

To hold tightly to something or keep believing something strongly in hard times

is used for a firm physical grasp rather than continuing belief
to hold tight
vsto hang
  • Informal
127 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

emphasizes long tenacity to avoid letting go rather than temporary safety grip
to clutch
vsto hang
115 3.4

To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling

is about steady tenacious holding rather than sudden emotional grasp
to stick to
vsto hang
107 1.8

Stay attached to a surface

is more about actively gripping someone or something rather than passive adhesion
to grip
vsto hang
95 1.3

To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe

leans more toward a forceful often momentary grasp rather than lasting tenacity
to clasp
vsto hang
39 2.6

To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands

is more of a quick secure closure than a long tenacious grip
to hold close
vsto hang
38 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

is more about persistent gripping to avoid letting go than affection
to hold fast
vsto hang
17 5.5

To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea

focuses more on physical tenacity to avoid letting go rather than ideology
to latch on
vsto hang
14 3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

is about keeping a long tenacious grip rather than quick attachment
to cleave
vsto hang
  • Literature
4 7.5

To stay very close to someone or something, often for support

is more physical and tenacious not necessarily showing loyalty or faithfulness

Antonyms

∞ 1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

Idioms

To be in a situation where the result is not decided, for example a job or game

To listen very carefully to every word someone says

to hang a Louie
  • Informal
1 9.9

Turn left while driving or riding a bike

A strong feeling that people in a place notice and feel

1 6.1

In a very dangerous situation where a small problem can cause everything to fail

to care a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To feel no interest or worry at all about something

Make a home and live in a place

to give a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.3

To not care at all about something, used only in negative sentences

Admire someone so much that you think they are perfect

1 9.1

To be in a very risky situation and about to fail

To start your own business as a professional

9.9

To not have enough evidence to prove someone is guilty or to take action

9.9

To throw up when you feel sick

to hang an arse
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

To stop working in your job, especially as an athlete

To stop doing an activity, especially to stop playing music for good

7.7

To live in a place and make it your home

7.7

To stop working after a long time

Phrasal Verbs

to hang out
  • Informal
∞ 2.4

To spend time relaxing or talking with friends

to hang on
  • Informal
445 3.4

To wait a short time or keep going through a hard time

411 2.5

End a phone call by putting the phone down

to hang around
  • Informal
334 2.0

To stay in a place without doing anything important

to hang on
  • Informal
227 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

to hang in
  • Informal
175 3.6

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

103 2.3

Put something on a wall or hook so it stays off the ground

to get the hang
  • Informal
56 3.6

Learn to do something well after some practice

56 3.9

To learn how to do something after some practice

38 4.6

To hesitate and stay behind the group

to hang tight
  • Informal
25 7.4

Wait patiently and stay calm during a delay

Keep someone worried about something bad that might happen

to hang on
  • Informal
8 3.0

To stay on the phone and wait

8 8.2

To relax completely and show your true feelings without holding back

To stay united and help each other in hard times

6 4.4

To stay in a place without a clear reason

To fit together so the parts make sense as a whole

To create a dark, worrying feeling that stays with people

Put a large sign or cloth up so people can see it

1 4.4

To be lower than usual or to seem sad

To fly with a lightweight glider hung below your body without an engine

1 5.4

Depend on something that decides the result

to hang fire
  • Informal
1 8.0

To delay making a decision or taking action

to go hang
  • Informal
1 9.1

To spend time relaxing with friends or alone without a plan

Stay perfectly straight when on a wall or ceiling

Compounds

hang-up
  • Informal
19 6.8

An emotional problem that makes someone feel nervous or unable to act normally

7 4.6

A sport of flying a light aircraft without an engine launched from a hill or cliff

6 4.2

A light flying craft without a motor like a large kite that a person hangs under to fly

4 5.9

An unexpected problem that stops progress in a plan or process

1 4.4

A person who flies a small craft like a kite while hanging below it

lever hang
  • Specialized
9.3

A position on gym rings where the body is held straight and horizontal

A position where you hang upside down from a bar or rings with your body straight

A body position with arms stretched backward while the body is held by a bar above

9.9

A position on rings where a gymnast hangs upside down with hips bent and legs straight

straight hang
  • Jargon
8.2

A position on rings or parallel bars with the body straight and arms at the sides

How Tightly

grip
140 1.0
to clutch
115 3.4
to hang
487 2.7
to hold
∞ 1.0
grab
36 1.0
to touch
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

hang infinitive
hanging present participle
hangs third person singular
hung past
hung past participle

Etymology

Hang began with the idea of holding on while suspended, so to 'hang on' means to hold tightly, just like a person holding to a ledge to avoid falling.