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to hang tight

to hang tight

22 7.4
Wait patiently and stay calm during a delay
  • phrasal verb
  • /hæŋ taɪt/
  • Informal
translation icon : esperar pacientemente
  • Won't you hang tight while I give him a call?
  • just hang tight
  • Hang tight, guys
  • hang tight, okay

You know, like I'll think right now, I'll stay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, gold, silver and hang tight in there.

Examples

  • Please, just hang tight, Mr. Salisbury, we'll be right there.

  • Please hang tight; the meeting will start shortly.

  • Can you just hang tight for me, please?

  • All right, hang tight, guys.

  • So hang tight, enjoy the video, and let's have some fun.

  • I'm just gonna hang tight here, wait for the cops to come.

  • I am sure the future will be brighter, but for now hang tight!

    Blog text (31)
  • Y'all just hang tight now, alright?

  • Customers who haven't received an email from us about Monday's outage—please hang tight, your special offer is coming in the next few days.

    Blog text (28)
  • In the "Snooki & JWOWW" bonus scene below, JWOWW wants to get her Jersey City bungalow spic and span before her boyfriend arrives for date night, but when he finally knocks on the front door and she's not done, she tells him to hang tight while she finishes up.

    Blog text (23)

Synonyms

to wait
vsto hang tight
1.0

To stay in one place or delay action until something happens

focuses on calm patient staying in place during uncertainty rather than general delay
to hold on
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
1.3

To wait for a short time during a phone call

means patient calm waiting during uncertainty rather than a very short pause
to hang on
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
111 3.4

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

refers to waiting patiently through uncertain delays rather than brief pauses or endurance
to sit tight
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
80 3.7

To wait patiently and not act

is used for patient calm waiting during uncertain delays rather than action
to hold off
vsto hang tight
78 3.8

To wait before doing something

emphasizes patient calm waiting during uncertainty rather than intentional postponement of action
to hold on a second
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
75 1.2

Ask someone to wait for a short time

refers to patient calm waiting during uncertain delay rather than a momentary pause
to wait around
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
71 2.5

To spend time doing nothing while waiting for someone or something

involves calm patient remaining during uncertainty rather than idle lingering or boredom
to hang about
vsto hang tight
  • UK
3 4.4

To stay in a place without a clear reason

focuses on calm patient waiting during uncertainty rather than purposeless lingering
to cool one's heels
vsto hang tight
  • Archaic
3 7.9

To wait somewhere for a long time feeling impatient

describes calm patient waiting during uncertainty rather than being made impatient while waiting
to hold one's horses
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
1 7.2

Tell someone to wait and be patient

encourages patient calm waiting during uncertainty rather than warning someone to slow down
to hang fire
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
1 8.0

To delay making a decision or taking action

focuses on calm patient waiting during uncertainty rather than intentional postponement
to kick one's heels
vsto hang tight
  • Informal
7.8

To wait doing nothing because you are delayed or bored

means calm patient waiting during uncertainty rather than bored, forced waiting

Antonyms

403 1.0

To make a person or thing move quickly

272 2.3

To feel sudden fear and lose the ability to think or act calmly

How Patient

to bide one's time
  • Informal
7.5
to sit tight
  • Informal
80 3.7
to hang tight
  • Informal
22 7.4
to wait
1.0
to hang on
  • Informal
111 3.4

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

hang + tight

The meaning 'to wait patiently' is derivable from combining 'hang' (to stay or persist) with 'tight' (firmly): together they convey holding one’s position, which maps to waiting. However, the usage is colloquial and relies on a metaphorical shift from 'holding firmly' to 'holding off/waiting', so learners may need exposure to confirm the pragmatic sense.

Etymology

The phrasal verb hang tight may come from the picture of someone holding a rope or bar and holding it tight so they do not fall. That's why it now means 'wait patiently' or 'stay calm' during a short delay.