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hang-on
[hang-on, -awn]
noun
something easily attached to or mounted on another surface or object, as a turbocharger or transceiver in an automobile, a unit suspendable from shelving, or a portable soap dish.
adjective
pertaining to or denoting such an attachment.
A clumsy hang-on unit supplied the air conditioning.
hang on
verb
(adverb) to continue or persist in an activity, esp with effort or difficulty
hang on at your present job until you can get another
(adverb) to cling, grasp, or hold
she hangs on to her mother's arm
(preposition) to be conditioned or contingent on; depend on
everything hangs on this business deal
Also: hang onto. hang upon. (preposition) to listen attentively to
she hung on his every word
informal, (adverb) to wait or remain
hang on for a few minutes
Word History and Origins
Origin of hang-on1
Idioms and Phrases
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 .
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 , meaning “to persist at any cost.” [Second half of 1800s]
Keep a telephone connection open, as in Please hang on, I'll see if he's in . [First half of 1900s]
Wait for a short time, be patient, as in Hang on, I'm getting it as fast as I can . [First half of 1900s]
Depend on, as in Our plans hang on their decision about the new park . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1900s]
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]
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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