hangs
hangs — verb
- hangspresent simple I / you / we / they
- hangses3rd person singular
- hangsing-ing form
- hangsedpast simple
1. to put something on a hook, rail, or other support so that the bottom part stays
to put something on a hook, rail, or other support so that the bottom part stays free and does not touch the surface underneath; for example, placing a jacket on a peg or a painting on a nail.
Caio hung his coat on the hook next to the front door.
hang + object + on [location]
Harper hung a hammock between two trees in the back garden.
hang + object + between [two points]
The wet towels hung over the edge of the bathtub until they dried.
A large mirror hung on the wall above the wooden sideboard.
文法句型
hang + object + on/from/over [location]
hang + on/from/over [location]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by on, from, or over to specify the position. The past form is hung for this sense — not hanged, which is reserved for execution.
常見錯誤
2. to fix wallpaper, decorative fabric, or other covering material onto a wall or o
to fix wallpaper, decorative fabric, or other covering material onto a wall or other vertical surface.
Owen spent the whole weekend hanging wallpaper in the bedroom.
hang + wallpaper
The decorator hung the new fabric panels along the restaurant wall.
Tanvi learned how to hang wallpaper properly during her art class.
A professional painter can hang a roll of wallpaper in under ten minutes.
文法句型
hang + object + on [wall/surface]
用法筆記
Object is typically wallpaper, fabric, or decorative sheets — not individual pictures or paintings (use sense 1 for those). Often used in DIY/home-improvement contexts.
3. to hang a freshly killed bird or animal in a cool place so that the meat becomes
to hang a freshly killed bird or animal in a cool place so that the meat becomes more tender and develops a stronger, richer flavour.
Defne hung the pheasant for three days before cooking it.
hang + [game bird] + for [time period]
The butcher hung the venison in the cold storage room to let it age.
Wild boar should be hung for at least a week for the best flavour.
Hunters traditionally hang deer in a cool shed before processing the meat.
- age
more general; includes dry-aging and other methods
文法句型
hang + [animal/bird/meat]
用法筆記
Past form is hung in this sense (not hanged). Object is always a game bird, animal carcass, or cut of meat. Commonly used in hunting, farming, and professional cooking contexts.
4. to kill a person by putting a rope around their neck and dropping their body, us
to kill a person by putting a rope around their neck and dropping their body, usually as a legal punishment; or to be killed in that manner.
The court sentenced the murderer to be hanged at dawn.
passive: be hanged
In some countries, people were hanged for stealing livestock.
The convicted spy swore he would not hang without a fight.
People gathered in the town square to watch the criminal hang.
文法句型
hang + [person]
be hanged for [crime]
hang for [crime]
用法筆記
The past form is hanged, not hung — this is the only sense of hang where that distinction matters. 'Hanged' is the traditional legal term and is strictly observed in historical and judicial writing.
常見錯誤
5. to stay floating or suspended in the sky or atmosphere without falling, used esp
to stay floating or suspended in the sky or atmosphere without falling, used especially of smoke, mist, clouds, or smells that do not move or fade quickly.
Thick smoke from the campfire hung in the still night air.
hang + in [the air/atmosphere]
A heavy fog hung over the valley all morning.
The smell of fried onions hung in the kitchen long after dinner.
Clouds of dust hung above the dirt road as the truck drove past.
文法句型
hang + in/over/above [location]
用法筆記
Subject is always a visible or odorous substance (smoke, mist, dust, aroma) — never a person or object that could be suspended by a rope. Frequently used with atmospheric prepositions: in, over, above.
6. to curve, droop, or fall downward in a relaxed way, especially describing fabric
to curve, droop, or fall downward in a relaxed way, especially describing fabric, hair, or plant stems that are not held stiffly upright.
The branches of the willow tree hung low over the pond.
hang + low/loose
Nala's long black hair hung loose down her back after she removed the band.
hang + [adjective describing position]
Greta's new dress hung beautifully from her shoulders.
The old man's arms hung limply at his sides as he rested.
文法句型
hang + [adverb/preposition]
hang + down/loose/low
用法筆記
Subject is typically long and flexible: hair, clothing, branches, or body parts. The focus is on the way something naturally falls or rests, not on how it is attached.
7. to turn a vehicle, especially a car, onto a different street or in a specific di
to turn a vehicle, especially a car, onto a different street or in a specific direction. Rather than saying 'turn left,' drivers often use this informal expression.
At the next traffic light, hang a left onto Oak Street.
hang a left — informal instruction for turning
The delivery truck hung a right just before the railroad crossing.
hang + a + direction (past tense: hung)
If you hang a right at the hospital entrance, the parking garage is on your left.
Sahil hung a quick right and pulled into the driveway.
The map said to hang a left after the bridge.
- turn
neutral and more common; 'hang' is informal and mostly American
文法句型
hang + a + direction noun (left/right)
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'a left' or 'a right' as the object. This sense is idiomatic and informal; it does not apply to pedestrians.
常見錯誤
8. to spend time in a relaxed, casual way with other people, usually without a plan
to spend time in a relaxed, casual way with other people, usually without a planned activity or a specific goal.
Evelyn and her friends usually hang out at the cafe near the park on Saturday afternoons.
hang out + at + place — most common pattern
A group of students were hanging around the library entrance after class ended.
hang around + place — lingering without purpose
Do you want to come over and hang this weekend? I just got a new board game.
Caio and his cousins hung out at the beach all afternoon.
The cat hung around the kitchen whenever the smell of fish filled the air.
- spend time
neutral and slightly more formal
- socialize
more formal; implies planned interaction rather than casual time together
- lounge
implies resting or being lazy, not necessarily with others
文法句型
hang + (out/around) + (with + person) + (in + place)
用法筆記
Most commonly used with 'out' (hang out) or 'around' (hang around). 'Hang out' is slightly more active and social; 'hang around' can suggest waiting or idleness.
常見錯誤
9. (of a computer, phone, or software program) to suddenly stop working or respondi
(of a computer, phone, or software program) to suddenly stop working or responding to commands, requiring a restart or force-quit to resume normal operation.
Ryo's laptop hung during the video call, so he pressed the power button to restart it.
[device] + hangs — intransitive use
The game froze and hung for almost a minute before the screen went completely black.
My phone keeps hanging whenever I try to open the navigation app in an area with no signal.
The checkout screen hung when Evelyn tried to pay with her card.
Reuben rebooted the router after the internet connection hung twice that morning.
文法句型
[computer/program/phone] + hangs
[computer] + gets hung
用法筆記
Sometimes used interchangeably with 'freeze' but 'hang' implies the program is still running but unresponsive, whereas 'crash' means it has stopped entirely. Common in IT support contexts.
常見錯誤
10. in baseball, when a pitcher sends a ball that does not curve or spin the way it
in baseball, when a pitcher sends a ball that does not curve or spin the way it should, so it moves straight through the hitting area and the batter can strike it with force.
The pitcher hung a curveball in the fourth inning, and the batter sent it over the fence.
[pitcher] + hangs + [pitch type] — transitive use
If a fastball hangs right over the middle of the plate, a good hitter will not miss it.
[ball] + hangs — intransitive use
Ife watched the ball hang in the air and knew the opposing team was about to score.
The left-handed pitcher hung a slider that drifted straight across the plate.
Aarav knew the ball had hung when he heard the crack of the bat.
文法句型
[pitcher] + hangs + [pitch type]
[ball] + hangs
用法筆記
This sense is specific to baseball jargon. 'Hang' describes a mistake by the pitcher — the ball does not move the way it should. The past form 'hung' is standard.
11. to hold something or someone firmly and refuse to let go; to continue doing some
to hold something or someone firmly and refuse to let go; to continue doing something despite difficulties or opposition.
The child hung onto the edge of the swing and refused to get off.
hang onto + [object] — physical grip
Even after losing the election, Tamar hung onto the belief that her campaign had made a difference.
hang onto + [belief/hope] — figurative persistence
The home team hung on for the last three minutes and won the game by a single point.
The mountain climber hung onto the rope while the wind howled around her.
Rania hung on through the hardest months of training and finished the marathon.
文法句型
hang + on/onto + [person/thing]
用法筆記
When used physically, 'hang onto' means a firm grip. When used figuratively, it means refusing to give up a belief, hope, or position. 'Hang on' without an object suggests endurance under pressure.
常見錯誤
12. (of a problem, threat, or unpleasant situation) to feel as if it is about to hap
(of a problem, threat, or unpleasant situation) to feel as if it is about to happen, creating worry or pressure for someone over a period of time.
The possibility of company-wide layoffs hung over the office for several months.
[threat] + hangs over + [person/group]
A tense silence hung in the courtroom as the judge prepared to read the verdict.
[feeling/atmosphere] + hangs in + [place]
The threat of a severe winter hung over the farmers who still had crops in the fields.
The question of who would take over the family business hung over every dinner conversation.
Mathieu felt a cloud of worry hanging over him as the exam date approached.
文法句型
[threat/problem] + hangs + over + [person/group]
[feeling] + hangs + in + [place]
用法筆記
The subject is usually an abstract noun describing a threat, problem, or unpleasant feeling. The preposition 'over' indicates what or who is affected. This sense is more common in literary or formal writing.
常見錯誤
13. to remain in a situation where no decision or result has been reached, usually w
to remain in a situation where no decision or result has been reached, usually while people wait anxiously for something to be settled; when said of a jury, it means the members cannot agree on a judgment.
The jury hung for three days before the judge declared a mistrial.
jury hang + temporal phrase for deadlock duration
The election results hung in the balance as Beatrix awaited the final county tally.
phrasal pattern: hang in the balance
The planning committee hung after hours of debate since no one agreed on a budget.
Tunde's scholarship application hung pending while the university reviewed his documents.
- deadlock
used as a verb mainly in legal contexts; narrower and more formal ('the jury deadlocked')
- be unresolved
describes the state rather than the verb action; more general
- reach a verdict
opposite meaning in jury context
- be settled
opposite of being in suspense
文法句型
hang + (temporal phrase)
hang + in the balance / in the air
用法筆記
Common in news reports about trials and political decisions. The simple past 'hung' describes the resulting deadlock: 'The jury hung.' The continuous form describes an ongoing state: 'The case is still hanging in the balance.'
常見錯誤
14. to listen or watch with full concentration, as if completely absorbed by what an
to listen or watch with full concentration, as if completely absorbed by what another person says or does; almost always used in the phrase 'hang on someone's every word.'
The children hung on the storyteller's every word as she described the dragon's secret cave.
set phrase: hang on + someone's every word
The students hung on Dr. Okafor's explanation of how the human heart works.
Putri hung on her grandfather's words, memorizing his stories about growing up in Java.
The courtroom hung on the witness's every word as she described the car crash.
- be captivated by
more general, can apply to any experience, not just listening
- listen intently
less poetic, more direct description of the action
- be spellbound by
stronger, suggests a magical or trance-like attention
文法句型
hang + on + someone's every word
hang + upon + someone's words/lips
be hanging + on + someone's every + noun
用法筆記
Almost always requires a prepositional complement introduced by 'on' or 'upon.' The most common construction is 'hang on someone's every word.' Using this sense without a complement (e.g., 'She hung' with no further context) would not convey the meaning of rapt attention.
常見錯誤
hangs — noun
1. a natural ability or skill that you develop through practice, allowing you to do
a natural ability or skill that you develop through practice, allowing you to do something more easily than before
It took a few weeks, but Dewi got the hang of driving a manual car.
collocation: get the hang of [something/doing something]
The new chef struggled at first but soon got the hang of the kitchen routine.
Once you get the hang of this software, editing videos takes only a few minutes.
After just three lessons, Rachid got the hang of using the pottery wheel.
文法句型
get the hang of + noun/gerund
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the fixed expression 'get the hang of something.' The object is typically a skill, tool, or activity that requires practice (e.g. driving, cooking, using software).
常見錯誤
2. the way fabric or a garment settles and drops when laid over a surface or put on
the way fabric or a garment settles and drops when laid over a surface or put on a person's body
The tailor admired the smooth hang of the silk curtains.
collocation: smooth hang of [fabric]
Heloísa chose the dress because she loved the elegant hang of the skirt.
Heavy velvet has a beautiful hang that keeps its shape on the floor.
The dressmaker adjusted the hem to improve the hang of the evening gown.
文法句型
the hang of [fabric/item of clothing]
用法筆記
Common in fashion and interior design contexts. Often modified by adjectives describing quality (smooth, elegant, beautiful, natural) to evaluate how fabric behaves.