hang
get the hang of something learn how to operate or do something. informal
1990Roddy DoyleThe Snapper He was pretending to time them…because he couldn't get the hang of the stop-watch Bertie'd got him.
hang by a thread: seethread.
hang fire delay or be delayed in taking action or progressing.
☞ In the late 18th century, hang fire was used to refer to the action of a firearm that was slow in communicating the fire through the vent to the charge and so did not go off immediately.
hang on to your hat: see hold on to your hat athat.
hang your head: seehead.
hang in there remain persistent and determined in difficult circumstances. informal, especially North American
hang a left (or right) make a left (or right) turn. US informal
hang loose: seeloose.
hang of a - (or a hang of) to a very high degree; very great. South African informal
☞ In this expression hang is probably being used as a euphemism for hell.
1945Frank SargesonWhen the Wind Blows All this was because Charlie was hang of a funny to be with.
hang on someone's lips: seelip.
hang one on
1 punch (someone) hard.
2 get drunk. informal, especially North American
hang someone out to dry leave someone in a difficult or vulnerable situation. informal
☞ The image here is of hanging wet washing on a clothes line to dry. The idea of 'flapping uselessly or ineffectually' like clothes drying in the wind is also behind the cricketing metaphor hanging your bat out to dry, which dates from the late 19th century and means 'holding your bat away from your body at an ineffectual angle'.
2011Economist The price rises will swiftly be reversed and the bosses responsible … could find themselves hung out to dry.
hang out your shingle: seeshingle.
hang tough be or remain inflexible or firmly resolved. North American informal
1992Randall KenanLet the Dead Bury their Dead Obviously, he intended to hang tough at first, but apparently Miss Jesse's psychic bullwhip lashed out and snap-crackled his brain.
hang up your boots stop working; retire. informal
☞ Boots are seen in this expression as part of a person's working clothes. A common Canadian variant is hang up your skates.
1997Farmers Weekly The hard fact is that all farmers, whether the pension scheme is attractive or not, are, mostly, reluctant to hang their boots up.
hang up your fiddle (when you come home): seefiddle.
hang your hat be resident. North American informal
2001Kevin SampsonOutlaws End of the day though it ain't the Royal and that is where I want to hang my hat.
How's it hanging? How are you?; How are things?; Hello. US slang
☞ The expression was originally used, with humorous reference, of the male genitals, and remains predominantly a male usage.
2012Sue TownsendThe Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year Alex, my man! How's it hanging, bro?
let it all hang out be uninhibited or relaxed. informal
not care (or give) a hang not care at all. informal
☞ Hang here is a late 19th-century euphemism for damn.
thereby hangs a tale: seethereby.