hang-on

American  

[hang-on, -awn] / ˈhæŋˌɒn, -ˌɔn /

noun

1. 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.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or denoting such an attachment.

   A clumsy hang-on unit supplied the air conditioning.

hang on British  

verb

1. (adverb) to continue or persist in an activity, esp with effort or difficulty

   hang on at your present job until you can get another

2. (adverb) to cling, grasp, or hold

   she hangs on to her mother's arm

3. (preposition) to be conditioned or contingent on; depend on

   everything hangs on this business deal

4. Also: hang onto.   hang upon.  (preposition) to listen attentively to

   she hung on his every word

5. informal (adverb) to wait or remain

   hang on for a few minutes

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hang on Idioms  

1. 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 .

2. 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]

3. Keep a telephone connection open, as in Please hang on, I'll see if he's in . [First half of 1900s]

4. Wait for a short time, be patient, as in Hang on, I'm getting it as fast as I can . [First half of 1900s]

5. Depend on, as in Our plans hang on their decision about the new park . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1900s]

6. 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]

7. 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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Etymology

Origin of hang-on

Noun, adj. use of verb phrase hang on

Example Sentences

Sega’s list of titles announced so far includes arcade hits like OutRun, Virtua Racing, After Burner II, Super Hang-On, and more.

From The Verge

It wasn’t the first time he’s recorded a hang-on top five, either.

From Golf Digest

And, then, comes hang-on time.

From Seattle Times

In the “hang-on area”, doors were being installed and seats were stacked nearby.

From The Guardian

“It’s like he’s throwing the ball nicely down the fairway with his driver. There’s no hang-on move. He’s moving off his right side and opening up nicely, and he has room on his downswing. The guys who drive it well are sweeping the ball, and he’s starting to do that more.”

From Golf Digest

Related Words

• cling
• go on
• grasp
• hold on
• hold out
• persevere
• persist