hang

hang1 [ hæŋ ] (past tense and past participle hung [ hʌŋ ] ) verb ***

▸ 1 attach something at top only

▸ 2 attach something to wall

▸ 3 kill with rope

▸ 4 put something into position

▸ 5 about smoke/smells

▸ 6 be seen in the sky

▸ 7 spend time in a place

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive to put something somewhere so that the top part is held in position but the bottom part can move freely:

Hang your jacket there.

hang something on/over something: Phillip hung his hat on a hook behind the door.

She hung her bag over the chair.

a ) intransitive to be fixed so that the top part is held in position but the bottom part can move freely:

hang from: A row of pots and pans hung from hooks above the sink.

hang on: The children's coats were hanging on pegs behind the door.

b ) intransitive if your hair hangs down, it is long and not tied:

hang over: Her dark hair hung down over her shoulders.

hang loose: His long hair hung loose.

c ) intransitive if clothes hang well, they look neat and attractive when you wear them

2. ) transitive to attach a picture, mirror, etc. onto a wall:

The portrait will now be hung in the local museum.

a ) intransitive if a picture, mirror, etc. hangs somewhere, it is attached to a wall there:

A large mirror hung over the fireplace.

b ) transitive if a wall or room is hung with pictures, there are pictures on the walls:

The walls were hung with movie posters.

3. ) (past tense and past participle hanged) transitive to kill someone by putting a rope around their neck and making them fall:

He was hanged for murder in 1942.

be found hanged: A prisoner was found hanged in her cell.

hang yourself: After his wife left, he tried to hang himself.

a ) intransitive to die in this way:

They knew if she was found guilty she would hang.

4. ) transitive to attach paper to a wall as decoration:

We spent the afternoon hanging wallpaper in our bedroom.

a ) to put a door into position:

It took us all morning to hang the new front door.

5. ) intransitive if something such as smoke or a smell hangs in the air, it remains there:

hang over/in: A thick mist hung over the fields.

A smell of stale tobacco hung in the room.

6. ) intransitive MAINLY LITERARY if something hangs in the sky, it is seen there:

A crescent moon hung low over the lake.

7. ) hang or hang out intransitive INFORMAL to spend time in a particular place or with particular people:

hang with: On the weekend I like to just hang with my friends.

hang by a thread or hang in the balance

to be very likely to fail:

His career now hung by a thread.

hang in there INFORMAL

to continue doing something in a determined way even though it is difficult

hang a left/right AMERICAN SPOKEN

to turn left or right when you are driving

hang something BRITISH SPOKEN OLD-FASHIONED

used for saying that something is not important:

I've decided to go on the trip, and hang the expense!

hang your head

to look downward because you feel ashamed

,hang a`round phrasal verb intransitive or transitive INFORMAL

hang around something to spend time in a place waiting or doing nothing:

I hung around outside, waiting for the others.

hang around SPOKEN

used for telling someone to wait

not hang around

to move or do something quickly:

Let's not hang around or we'll be late!

,hang a`round with phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

hang around with someone to spend time with someone:

Marie always hung around with boys.

,hang `back phrasal verb intransitive

to not do something immediately because you are not confident or you do not feel certain about it: HESITATE

,hang `on phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to hold tightly to something

2. ) intransitive INFORMAL to wait or be patient:

I think we should hang on and see the end of the game.

3. ) transitive hang on something to depend on something:

Everything hangs on the result of the blood test.

hang on someone's every word

to listen very carefully to what someone is saying

,hang `onto phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

hang onto something to keep something:

She still hung onto her wedding ring, even after the divorce.

,hang `out phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive INFORMAL same as HANG1 7:

She knew all the clubs where he usually hung out.

2. ) transitive to hang wet clothes outside to dry

3. ) intransitive to lean out of a window so that the top part of your body is outside:

hang out of: Two students were hanging out of the second floor window.

,hang `over phrasal verb transitive

hang over someone/something if something hangs over you, you worry about it or feel upset about it:

The threat of homelessness hangs over hundreds of families.

A sense of doom hung over the town.

,hang to`gether phrasal verb intransitive INFORMAL

if something hangs together, the different parts of it combine well so that it seems well planned and organized:

The speech doesn't really hang together.

,hang `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to put the telephone down at the end of a conversation:

Greg hung up and sat back in his chair.

hang up on: Get lost! she shouted, and hung up on me.

2. ) transitive to hang a piece of clothing on something:

The women hung up their coats and sat down.

3. ) transitive INFORMAL to stop using something because you are no longer doing a particular sport or activity:

Nicola has decided it's time to hang up her dancing shoes.

get hung up INFORMAL

to be delayed:

I'm sorry I'm late I got hung up at the office.

hang up your hat INFORMAL

to leave your job, especially when you are old enough to stop working

hang

hang 2 [ hæŋ ] noun

get/have the hang of something INFORMAL

to learn a skill or activity:

Skiing is not very tiring, once you get the hang of it.