hang about
A2 informal intransitive
In simple words
To stay somewhere without doing much, or to tell someone to wait.
Literal meaning: To hang (stay suspended) in a place, approximately.
Meanings
1 A2 informal
To stay in a place without a clear purpose; to wait or loiter.
"A group of teenagers were hanging about outside the shopping centre."
2 B1
idiomatic
informal
(British, exclamation) Wait a moment; used to interrupt or express sudden doubt.
"Hang about — didn't you say you'd already paid for this?"
Usage notes
Predominantly British English. Used both as a verb meaning to wait or linger, and as an exclamation ('Hang about! That doesn't seem right.'). American English speakers would more commonly say 'hang around' or 'hold on'.
Commonly used with
outside corner all day minute second
Forms
Base
hang about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs about
he/she/it
Past simple
hung about
yesterday
Past participle
hung about
have + pp
-ing form
hanging about
continuous
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Synonyms
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