hang on
To wait, to hold something tightly, or to keep going when things are hard.
Meanings
To wait; used as a command or request.
"Hang on a second — I'll be right with you."
To hold tightly to something for support or safety.
"Hang on to the railing — the path is slippery."
To continue doing something despite difficulty; to persist.
"The company managed to hang on through the financial crisis, unlike many of its competitors."
To depend on something critically.
"Everything hangs on whether the board approves the new budget."
""A great deal hangs on the outcome of these negotiations.""
— The Guardian, general news coverage
Extremely high-frequency phrasal verb with several uses. As a command ('Hang on!') it means 'wait'. As an instruction during movement ('Hang on tight!') it means 'hold firmly'. Figuratively it means to persist. Very common in all varieties of English.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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