1 B2 informal
To hang or suspend something quickly and informally by slinging it with a rope, strap, or fabric.
"They slung up a hammock between two trees and spent the afternoon relaxing."
separable
sling up
B2 informal separable transitive
To hang or suspend something quickly by looping or throwing a rope or fabric, or to put a limb in a medical sling.
In plain English
Hang something up quickly using a rope or similar, or put an arm/leg in a sling.
What does "sling up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To put an injured arm or limb in a medical sling.
"The doctor slung up his broken arm while they waited for an X-ray."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To sling (throw/hang) something up — fairly transparent.
Actually means
Hang something up quickly using a rope or similar, or put an arm/leg in a sling.
Usage tip
Has both a practical/physical sense (hanging a hammock, a sign, or cargo) and a medical sense (immobilising a limb). The medical sense is especially common in British English. Both senses involve the idea of suspending something.
Words that pair with "sling up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hammock arm cargo net tarpaulin sign
How to conjugate "sling up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sling up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slings up
he/she/it
Past simple
slinged up
yesterday
Past participle
slinged up
have + pp
-ing form
slinging up
continuous
Hear "sling up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sling up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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