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Phrase Meanings » hang on
What does "hang on" mean?
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hang on to. Cling tightly to something, retain, as in Hang on to those papers before they blow away. [Mid-1800s] Also see hang on to your hat.
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Continue persistently, persevere, as in This cough is hanging on much longer than I expected, or He was hanging on, hoping business would improve when interest rates went down. This usage was sometimes embellished to hang on by one's eyelashes or eyebrows or eyelids, meaning “to persist at any cost.” [Second half of 1800s]
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Keep a telephone connection open, as in Please hang on, I'll see if he's in. [First half of 1900s]
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Wait for a short time, be patient, as in Hang on, I'm getting it as fast as I can. [First half of 1900s]
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Depend on, as in Our plans hang on their decision about the new park. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]
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Blame on, as in They'll try to hang that robbery on the same gang, but I don't think they'll succeed. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
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hang one on. Get very drunk, as in Come on, let's go and hang one on. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with hang on.
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