hang
/hæŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /hæŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhaŋ/ (ame, mw)
hang — verb
- hangpresent simple I / you / we / they
- hangshe / she / it
- hungpast simple
- hanging-ing form
1. to place an object in an elevated position by fixing its upper part to a hook, n
to place an object in an elevated position by fixing its upper part to a hook, nail, or rail, so the lower part can move freely; the object may also remain in that position without being supported from underneath.
Talia hung her coat on the hook by the front door.
transitive: hang + object + on + position
The children hung colourful paper lanterns from the ceiling for the party.
transitive: hang + object + from + position
A large mirror hangs above the fireplace in the living room.
The teacher asked the class to hang their artwork on the classroom wall.
The wooden sign hung from two metal chains outside the old shop.
文法句型
hang + object + on/from/over [position]
hang + in/on/from [position]
用法筆記
The past tense is hung for this sense. Use hanged (sense 4) only for execution by rope.
常見錯誤
2. to put wallpaper onto a wall by covering the back with paste and pressing it int
to put wallpaper onto a wall by covering the back with paste and pressing it into place.
Min spent the weekend hanging wallpaper in the baby's room.
common pattern: hang + wallpaper + in [room]
The decorator hung striped wallpaper in the hallway and floral paper in the kitchen.
It took two people to hang the wallpaper evenly without any air bubbles.
They decided to paint the ceiling first and hang the wallpaper afterwards.
文法句型
hang + wallpaper/paper
用法筆記
Only used with wallpaper as the object. For hanging pictures or decorations, use sense 1.
3. to leave a recently killed bird or animal hanging in a cool place so that the me
to leave a recently killed bird or animal hanging in a cool place so that the meat becomes softer and develops a stronger flavour; or to be left in this way.
The hunter hung the deer in the shed for a week before cutting the meat.
transitive: hang + animal + for [duration]
Local butchers hang their beef for several days to develop a richer taste.
The pheasants hung in the cold pantry until they were ready to cook.
The old farmer taught his son how to hang a wild boar properly for the best flavour.
文法句型
hang + [animal/meat]
meat + hangs + for [period]
用法筆記
The past tense is hung for both transitive and intransitive uses of this sense. The meat is not frozen but kept at a cool temperature.
4. to end a life by placing a rope around the neck and letting the body fall from a
to end a life by placing a rope around the neck and letting the body fall from a height, so the neck breaks from the sudden pull — this is usually ordered as a formal punishment by a court; the word also describes the victim's death.
The prisoner was hanged at dawn for the murder of a prison guard.
passive: be hanged + at [time] + for [crime]
In the nineteenth century, people were sometimes hanged for stealing a horse.
passive: historical context
The convicted spy declared that he would never hang, even if the court ordered it.
Tariq read a novel about a woman sentenced to hang for a crime she did not commit.
- execute
broader meaning; can refer to any method of killing as punishment
文法句型
hang + [person]
be + hanged + for [crime]
be + hanged + at [time/place]
用法筆記
The past tense is hanged, not hung, for this sense. This is the only sense of hang that uses the past form hanged. The passive is very common (be hanged).
常見錯誤
5. to remain floating in the air without dropping, used especially of smoke, mist,
to remain floating in the air without dropping, used especially of smoke, mist, smells, or aircraft that do not move from one spot.
Thick smoke from the campfire hung in the air for hours after the fire went out.
smoke + hangs + in the air
A white mist hangs over the valley every morning in late autumn.
mist + hangs + over [location]
The smell of freshly baked bread hung in the kitchen long after the baking was done.
A police helicopter hung in the sky above the stadium during the concert.
文法句型
hang + in/over/above [location]
smoke/smell/mist + hangs + in/over [place]
用法筆記
Often used figuratively for smells, sounds, or feelings that seem to remain in a place. For example, 'a sense of sadness hung in the room.'
6. to bend or droop downward, or to let something bend down; used for a person's he
to bend or droop downward, or to let something bend down; used for a person's head (usually showing shame or tiredness), hair, clothing, or tree branches.
The old willow tree's branches hung low over the surface of the pond.
branches + hang + low + over [position]
Rafael hung his head in shame after breaking his mother's favourite vase.
transitive: hang + one's head (shame/sadness)
Her long black hair hung down her back in a thick single braid.
The heavy snow made the power lines hang dangerously low across the street.
文法句型
hang + [body part]
hair/clothes/branches + hang + [position]
用法筆記
When used with 'head' (hang one's head), this sense almost always carries an emotional meaning of shame, embarrassment, or sadness. For clothing (sense 11 in verb_b2), use 'hang' to describe how fabric fits on the body.
7. to steer a vehicle to the left or right, used especially when giving directions
to steer a vehicle to the left or right, used especially when giving directions while driving on a road
Constanza hung a left at the traffic lights and drove toward the station.
hang + a + direction (left/right)
The taxi driver told me to hang a right after the old post office.
If you hang a sharp left just past the bridge, you will see the market.
Mert hung a right onto a narrow street to avoid the traffic jam.
Not knowing where to hang a left, Beatrix stopped to ask for directions.
- turn
more general and neutral; used in all contexts including formal
文法句型
hang + a + direction (left/right)
用法筆記
Only used with 'a left' or 'a right' (or 'a sharp left/right'). Never used without a following direction word.
常見錯誤
8. to spend time in a relaxed, casual way with friends or in a particular place, of
to spend time in a relaxed, casual way with friends or in a particular place, often without a specific plan
Aarav and his friends often hang out at the park near the school.
hang out + at [place]
Do you want to hang out with us after class tomorrow?
hang out + with [someone]
The teenagers hang out at the shopping centre on Saturday afternoons.
Yan spent the whole afternoon hanging out by the pool with his cousins.
Where do the local students usually hang out after school?
- socialize
more formal; used in professional or academic contexts
- spend time
neutral; less specific about the relaxed quality of the activity
文法句型
hang out + with [someone]
hang out + at/in [place]
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'with' (someone) or 'at/in' (a place). Use 'spend time with' in formal writing instead of this phrasal verb.
常見錯誤
9. when a computer program, device, or website suddenly stops responding to command
when a computer program, device, or website suddenly stops responding to commands, usually with a motionless screen
My laptop hung while I was saving the report, and I lost all my work.
hang while [doing something]
The game hung halfway through the loading screen, so I restarted it.
If the program hangs, try closing it and opening it again.
Talia's computer hung right before the presentation, which was very stressful.
The website hung because too many people were trying to buy tickets at once.
文法句型
[computer/program] + hangs
hang + while + verb-ing
用法筆記
Only the form 'hung' is used for computers (never 'hanged'). 'Hanged' is reserved for execution by rope. Common in both British and American English for technology contexts.
常見錯誤
10. in baseball, when a pitcher sends a ball toward the batter that fails to spin as
in baseball, when a pitcher sends a ball toward the batter that fails to spin as intended, so the batter can hit it easily
The pitcher hung a curveball, and the batter hit it over the fence.
hang + [type of pitch]
When a pitch hangs in the strike zone, the batter can hit it easily.
The coach told Adisa not to hang his slider in a tight game.
That breaking ball hung badly, and the crowd knew it would be a home run.
文法句型
hang + [type of pitch]
[pitch] + hangs
用法筆記
Used mainly by baseball commentators, coaches, and players. The subject can be the pitcher (transitive — 'he hung a curveball') or the pitch itself (intransitive — 'the pitch hung').
11. how a piece of clothing or fabric rests or falls on a person's body or over a su
how a piece of clothing or fabric rests or falls on a person's body or over a surface
The silk dress hung loosely on her shoulders and moved with every step.
hang + adverb (loosely, perfectly, heavily)
This jacket hangs beautifully because the tailor adjusted it carefully.
Mathieu's new coat hung heavily on his small frame on the cold morning.
The curtains hung in soft folds over the window, letting in some light.
Maja tried on several skirts to see how they hung on her body.
文法句型
hang + adverb (loosely, perfectly, heavily)
hang + in + [description]
用法筆記
Always takes an adverb or a phrase describing how the item falls. Simply saying 'the dress hangs' is not enough — you must describe the way it hangs.
常見錯誤
hang — noun
1. the ability to understand or do something after you have practised it, especiall
the ability to understand or do something after you have practised it, especially when the skill is not immediately easy or obvious to learn
Jisoo struggled at first but soon got the hang of the new software.
get the hang of + noun phrase (the skill)
It took Christopher a whole month to get the hang of driving a manual car.
Once you get the hang of the rhythm, the dance moves become much easier.
Bao said the recipe looked hard but got the hang of it after two tries.
Lakshmi finally got the hang of the lock and opened the old wooden chest.
文法句型
get the hang of + noun phrase / gerund
用法筆記
This noun only appears in the fixed expression 'get the hang of (something)'. The subject is always a person learning a skill, and the object is the activity or tool being learned.
常見錯誤
2. the visual effect of fabric or clothing as it hangs from a support, including ho
the visual effect of fabric or clothing as it hangs from a support, including how it folds, falls, or lies against a surface
Gabriel admired the smooth hang of the silk curtains in the living room.
the hang of + [fabric type] — describing appearance
The tailor adjusted the hang of the jacket so it rested well on the shoulders.
adjusted the hang of — tailoring context
Léa chose a lighter cotton fabric to improve the hang of her summer dress.
Nala noticed the uneven hang of the hem and asked the seamstress to re-stitch it.
The hang of a shirt depends on the fabric and how it is cut.
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in fashion, sewing, and interior design contexts. Unlike 'get the hang of' (Sense 1), this sense stands alone as a countable noun.