hang up
To end a phone call, to put something on a hook, or to quit something you've been doing for a long time.
Meanings
To end a telephone call.
"She was so angry that she hung up without saying goodbye."
To place something on a hook, hanger, or nail.
"Please hang your coat up when you come in."
(Figurative) To retire from a sport, job, or activity, often permanently.
"After thirty years in the ring, the champion finally decided to hang up his gloves."
(Be hung up on) To be emotionally preoccupied with or anxious about something.
"He's still hung up on his ex-girlfriend even though they broke up two years ago."
The phone sense comes from the era when receivers were hung on hooks. Still used universally even for mobile phones where nothing is literally 'hung'. The figurative sense ('hang up one's boots') means to retire from an activity. 'Be hung up on' means to be emotionally preoccupied with something.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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