hang on
See also: hangon
English
Verb
hang on (third-person singular simple present hangs on, present participle hanging on, simple past and past participle hung on)
- (idiomatic, chiefly imperative) To wait a moment.
- Hang on. Let me check.
- To hold, grasp, or grip.
- Hang on to the handle so you don't drop it.
- 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 271:
- "If you'll come along, then hang on!" said Hans, and the man had to hang on and limp along on one leg, whether he would or no; and when he tried to tear himself loose, he made it still worse for himself, for he was very nearly falling on his back whenever he struggled to get free.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 7, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
- Old Applegate, in the stern, just set and looked at me, and Lord James, amidship, waved both arms and kept hollering for help. I took a couple of everlasting big strokes and managed to grab hold of the skiff's rail, close to the stern. Then, for a jiffy, I hung on and fought for breath.
- (idiomatic) To keep; to store something for someone.
- Hang on to my jacket until I get back.
- (idiomatic) To pay close attention to, or regard with (possibly obsequious) admiration.
- The audience hangs on his every word.
- (idiomatic) To continually believe in something; to have faith in.
- He's got a philosophy he hangs on to.
- (idiomatic) To persevere.
- Just hang on and keep going; this pain won't last forever.
- 1972 : Perfect Day by Lou Reed
- It's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spend it with you
- Such a perfect day you just keep me hanging on
- You just keep me hanging on
- (idiomatic) To depend upon.
- Synonym: hang upon
- Everything hangs on whether the boss agrees.
Synonyms
- (wait a moment): See also Thesaurus:wait
- (hold, grasp, or grip): See also Thesaurus:grasp
- (store something for someone): keep, store
- (continually believe in something): keep faith
- (persevere): See also Thesaurus:persevere
Translations
wait a minute
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to hold, grasp, or grip
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to keep; to store something for someone
to pay close attention to, or regard with admiration
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continually believe in something
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persevere
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