hang onto
B1 informal transitive
In simple words
To not let go of something, or to keep something you have.
Literal meaning: To hang (hold) onto (attached to) something so it doesn't escape.
Meanings
1 A2 informal
To hold something firmly so it does not fall or get lost.
"Hang onto your boarding pass — you'll need it at the gate."
2 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To keep something you have and not give it up or sell it.
"The investor decided to hang onto her shares despite the falling market."
3 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To maintain or keep a feeling, belief, or memory.
"He hung onto the hope that she would come back, even after years had passed."
Usage notes
Used both literally (holding something tightly) and figuratively (keeping a job, memory, belief, or object). Very common in everyday speech. Can also express an instruction: 'Hang onto this for me.'
Commonly used with
ticket receipt job memory hope belief hat
Forms
Base
hang onto
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs onto
he/she/it
Past simple
hung onto
yesterday
Past participle
hung onto
have + pp
-ing form
hanging onto
continuous
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Synonyms
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