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Glite Dictionary
to hang up one's fiddle

to hang up one's fiddle

9.6
To stop doing an activity, especially to stop playing music for good
  • idiom
  • Archaic
: colgar el violín
  • After the tour, she decided it was finally time to hang up her fiddle and enjoy retirement.

Examples

  • He knew the injury meant he had to hang up his fiddle earlier than planned.

  • After years of performing, she decided to hang up her fiddle.

  • Once the group disbanded, most members chose to hang up their fiddle for good.

  • Don't hang up your fiddle!

  • After many years of playing in the band, he decided to hang up his fiddle and pursue a new career.

  • She finally chose to hang up her fiddle after decades of bringing joy to audiences.

  • After the last performance, the musician announced she would hang up her fiddle for good.

Synonyms

to quit
vsto hang up one's fiddle
791 1.2

To leave a job or position

is about ending participation as a long term retirement rather than simple leaving
to drop out
vsto hang up one's fiddle
304 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

is used for ending a role or career not specifically about early abandonment
to give it up
vsto hang up one's fiddle
217 3.7

To stop doing something you once did

is used for ending a career or role in a more final way
to call it quits
vsto hang up one's fiddle
  • Informal
36 3.9

To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough

is about leaving a role permanently rather than stopping because you are done
to wind up
vsto hang up one's fiddle
30 3.7

Bring an activity or meeting to an end

is about a person stopping their involvement rather than closing an event
to bow out
vsto hang up one's fiddle
24 4.9

To stop doing a job or role politely

is neutral about manner focusing on stopping the activity itself
to hang up one's boots
vsto hang up one's fiddle
  • UK
7.5

To stop working in your job, especially as an athlete

is used for leaving mainly musical performance rather than athletic work
to hang up one's hat
vsto hang up one's fiddle
  • Informal
7.7

To stop working after a long time

is applied when someone leaves an activity without implying long service
to call it stumps
vsto hang up one's fiddle
  • UK
9.6

To stop working or playing and finish for now

is used for permanently leaving a role rather than ending a single event

Antonyms

to continue
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

to take up
270 3.4

To begin a job, activity, or hobby

How Retired

to retire
606 2.0
to hang up one's fiddle
  • Archaic
9.6
to quit
4 1.0
to give up
∞ 1.2

Surface Forms

hang up one's fiddle infinitive
hanging up one's fiddle present participle
hangs up one's fiddle third person singular
hung up one's fiddle past
hung up one's fiddle past participle

Morphology

hang + up + one + fiddle

The literal image of putting an instrument on a hook (hang + up + fiddle) transparently suggests stopping play, so a learner who knows the words can infer ‘stop playing.’ However, the conventionalized sense of permanently quitting or retiring (hang up one’s X) is idiomatic and requires cultural/usage knowledge beyond the literal parts. Because the core idea is derivable but the precise pragmatic nuance (retire/quit) is somewhat conventionalized, this is best rated semi-transparent.

Etymology

Hang up one's fiddle comes from a simple image of a musician hanging up their fiddle on a peg or a wall when they stop playing. So, the phrase means 'to quit' or 'to retire' from an activity, especially from playing music.