hang upon
hang upon
1. To be physically suspended from something. (All of these usages are more formal and old-fashioned than the more common variant "hang on.") It seemed surreal having baby clothes hanging upon the line next to ours.
2. To suspend something from some surface or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "hang" and "upon." We always hang our stockings upon the mantle on Christmas Eve.
3. To try to assign responsibility for something to someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "hang" and "upon." The sheriff is clearly trying to hang the crime upon whomever he can find in order to appease the townsfolk.
4. To listen to something very closely, intently, or with obsequious attention. Used especially in the phrase "hang upon someone's (every) word." The politician was so charismatic that he had even his detractors hanging upon his every word. I was enraptured by her, and I hung upon everything she said to me.
5. To be dependent on something. The very future of our company hangs upon the ramifications of this new legislation.
6. dated Of military units, to remain near to and continue putting offensive pressure on someone or something. The government laid siege to the rebel town, its troops hanging upon its perimeter to ensure that no one escaped.
See also: hang, upon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- a bird in hand
- a bird in the hand
- a/the feel of (something)
- (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
- a straw will show which way the wind blows
- a crack at (someone or something)
- all right
- (you) wanna make something of it?
- all for the best
- a thing of the past