Hang on

Meaning

The idiom "hang on" is used to express the idea of waiting or holding on until something happens. It can also be used to signal that the speaker is taking a moment to gather their thoughts or to ask someone to wait while they finish something. The figurative meaning of "hang on" is often used in a more informal context and conveys the sense of patience or perseverance needed in waiting for something to happen.

Usage

• I need to hang on for a moment, I'm trying to find my phone.
• Don't hang up yet, there's still time for us to talk.
• We need to hang on until the boss arrives, she's running late.
• Hang on while I transfer you to our customer service department.
• I can't hang out tonight, I have a lot of work to do.

Roots and History

The idiom "hang on" has been used in English since the 16th century. It originally comes from the idea of hanging up a telephone or a piece of clothing, which involves waiting for something to happen before taking action. Over time, the meaning of the phrase has shifted to express patience and perseverance, particularly in informal contexts. There are no significant regional variations of the idiom in English, but it may be used differently depending on the cultural background of the speaker or listener.

Synonyms in English

• Hold on
• Wait for a moment
• Give me a second
• Take a breath
• Let me finish what I'm doing

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - Espera un momento, tira a suelo (Wait a moment, throw it down)
• French - Attendez un instant, jetez votre téléphone sur la table (Wait for a moment, throw your phone on the table)
• German - Hör auf, lass es ruhen (Stop, let it rest)
• Italian - Aspettiamo un momento, per favore (Let me finish, please)
• Japanese - お待ちいてください、またすぐに返ります (Please wait, I'll be right back in a moment)

Similar Idioms

• haste makes waste

• on the dot

• long run