hang on
1 of 1verb/hæŋ ɑn/
Forms:hangs on,hanging on,hung on,hung on
1
to ask someone to wait briefly or pause for a moment
B2- The doctor asked the patient to hang on while they reviewed the test results.
- Can you hang on for a moment?
- Hang on a second; I need to grab my coat before we leave.
- She told her friend to hang on while she finished a quick task.
- He told his team to hang on while he reviewed the final details of the project.
2
to unfairly blame someone for something
- You can't hang the mistake on me; I wasn't even in the office that day.
- Don't try to hang the failure on me; it was a team effort.
- She hung the accusation on me, but I had an alibi.
- I will not allow them to hang the blame on me for this situation.
- Can you explain why they are trying to hang this mistake on you?
3
to persist and refuse to give up, especially in difficult or challenging situations
- Despite the setbacks, he decided to hang on and continue pursuing his dream.
- She told herself to hang on even when things seemed impossible.
- The team's determination to hang on during the tough match paid off with a late goal.
- In times of adversity, it's essential to hang on and keep moving forward.
- The entrepreneur's ability to hang on through tough times led to the success of the business.
4
to remain on the line during a phone call, typically while waiting for someone to become available to talk
B2- Can you please hang on for a moment?
- The receptionist asked the caller to hang on as she transferred the call to the appropriate department.
- I'll put you on hold for a minute; please hang on until I return to the call.
- Just hang on for a few seconds while I check that information for you.
Synonyms:
5
to be dependent on something
- Their success hangs on the outcome of the upcoming negotiation.
- The company's survival hangs on its ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
- The team's victory is hanging on the performance of their star player.
- Her decision to take the job hangs on the salary and benefits package.
- The success of the project hangs on the cooperation of all team members.
6
to grasp or hold onto something tightly for balance or to prevent falling
- Hang on tight, the roller coaster is about to take off!
- In strong winds, it's crucial to hang on to your hat to prevent it from blowing away.
- Hang on tight to the rope while I lower you down into the cave.
- The rock climber had to hang on to a narrow ledge until help arrived.
- When riding a bicycle, always hang on to the handlebars for control.
7
to pay close attention on something
- I need to hang on to every word of the lecture to understand the complex concepts being discussed.
- During the important meeting, she hung on to every detail of the presentation.
- To solve the puzzle, you need to hang on to the clues provided.
- The students were hanging on to the professor's every word during the fascinating lecture.
8
to stay in a state of waiting until a specific event or outcome occurs
- We've been hanging on for the test results, and it's making us quite anxious.
- We'll have to hang on a bit longer to hear the final decision.
- He couldn't hang on any longer and left the waiting room.
- I'm just going to hang on here until the bus arrives.
- I'm still waiting to hear if my loan was approved; the bank has kept me hanging on for weeks.
9
to last longer than expected
- The flu hung on for weeks, making recovery challenging.
- The bad weather hung on for the entire weekend, ruining outdoor plans.
- The memory of the accident hung on in her mind, causing anxiety.
- How long do you think this feeling of drowsiness will hang on?
- The discomfort didn't hang on as long as I thought it would.