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hang loose

 - 11 dictionary results

hang

  [hang] verb, hung or, especially for 4, 5, 20, 24, hanged; hang⋅ing; noun
Use hang loose in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.
2. to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement: to hang a pendulum.
3. to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement.
4. to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like.
5. to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead: He hanged himself from a beam in the attic.
6. to fasten to a cross; crucify.
7. to furnish or decorate with something suspended: to hang a room with pictures.
8. to fasten into position; fix at a proper angle: to hang a scythe.
9. to fasten or attach (wallpaper, pictures, etc.) to a wall: to hang pictures in a room.
10. to suspend (something) in front of anything: to hang curtains on a window.
11. Fine Arts.
a. to exhibit (a painting or group of paintings): The gallery hung his paintings in a small corner.
b. to put the paintings of (an art exhibition) on the wall of a gallery: They hung the show that morning.
12. to attach or annex as an addition: to hang a rider on a bill.
13. to attach (a door or the like) to its frame by means of hinges.
14. to make (an idea, form, etc.) dependent on a situation, structure, concept, or the like, usually derived from another source: He hung the meaning of his puns on the current political scene.
15. (of a juror) to keep (a jury) from rendering a verdict by refusing to agree with the others.
16. Informal. to cause (a nickname, epithet, etc.) to become associated with a person: Friends hung that nickname on him.
17. Slang. to hit with (a fist, blow, punch, etc.): He hung a left on his opponent's jaw.
18. Baseball. to throw (a pitch) so that it fails to break, as a curve.
19. Nautical. to steady (a boat) in one place against a wind or current by thrusting a pole or the like into the bottom under the boat and allowing the wind or current to push the boat side-on against the pole.
20. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions, often as a euphemism for damn): I'll be hanged if I do. Hang it all!
–verb (used without object)
21. to be suspended; dangle.
22. to swing freely, as on a hinge.
23. to incline downward, jut out, or lean over or forward: The tree hung over the edge of the lake.
24. to be suspended by the neck, as from a gallows, and suffer death in this way.
25. to be crucified.
26. to be conditioned or contingent; be dependent: His future hangs on the outcome of their discussion.
27. to be doubtful or undecided; waver or hesitate: He hung between staying and going.
28. to remain unfinished or undecided; be delayed: Let that matter hang until our next meeting.
29. to linger, remain, or persist: He hung by her side, unwilling to leave.
30. to float or hover in the air: Fog hung over the city.
31. to be oppressive, burdensome, or tedious: guilt that hangs on one's conscience.
32. to remain in attention or consideration (often fol. by on or upon): They hung on his every word.
33. to fit or drape in graceful lines: That coat hangs well in back.
34. Fine Arts.
a. to be exhibited: His works hang in most major museums.
b. to have one's works on display: Rembrandt hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
35. Informal. to hang out.
–noun
36. the way in which a thing hangs.
37. Informal. the precise manner of doing, using, etc., something; knack: to get the hang of a tool.
38. Informal. meaning or thought: to get the hang of a subject.
39. Nautical.
a. loss of way due to adverse wind or current.
b. a rake, as of a mast.
40. the least degree of care, concern, etc. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions as a euphemism for damn): He doesn't give a hang about those things.
—Verb phrases
41. hang around or about, Informal.
a. to spend time in a certain place or in certain company: He hangs around with an older crowd.
b. to linger about; loiter: They had stopped working and were just hanging around to talk.
42. hang back,
a. to be reluctant to proceed or move forward: The older pupils went straight to the podium, but the younger ones hung back out of shyness.
b. to refrain from taking action; hesitate: A forward pass would have been the best call, but the quarterback hung back because his last pass had been intercepted.
43. hang in, Slang. to persevere: She has managed to hang in despite years of bad luck. Also, hang in there.
44. hang on,
a. to hold fast; cling to.
b. to continue with effort; persevere: If you can hang on for a month longer, you will be eligible for the bonus.
c. to be sustained to the point of danger, tedium, etc.: coughs that hang on for months.
d. to keep a telephone line open: Hang on, I'll see if she's here.
e. to wait briefly; keep calm.
45. hang out,
a. to lean or be suspended through an opening.
b. Informal. to frequent a particular place, esp. in idling away one's free time: to hang out in a bar.
c. Informal. to loiter in public places: nothing to do on Saturday night but hang out.
d. Informal. to consort or appear in public with: Who's she been hanging out with?
e. Slang. to calm down: Hang out, Mom, I'm OK.
f. to wait, esp. briefly: Hang out a minute while I get my backpack.
g. to suspend in open view; display: to hang out the flag.
46. hang over,
a. to remain to be settled; be postponed: They will probably let the final decision hang over until next year.
b. to be imminent or foreboding; threaten: Economic ruin hangs over the town.
47. hang up,
a. to suspend by placing on a hook, peg, or hanger.
b. to cause or encounter delay; suspend or slow the progress of: The accident hung up the traffic for several hours.
c. to break a telephone connection by replacing the receiver on the hook: She received an anonymous call, but the party hung up when she threatened to call the police.
d. to cause a hang-up or hang-ups in: The experience hung her up for years.
—Idioms
48. hang a left (or right), Slang. to make a left (or right) turn, as while driving an automobile: Hang a right at the next corner.
49. hang five, to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body forward and the toes of the forward foot curled over the front edge of the surfboard.
50. hang in the balance, to be in a precarious state or condition: The wounded man's life hung in the balance.
51. hang it up, Informal. to quit, resign, give up, etc.: The chief engineer is hanging it up after 40 years with the company.
52. hang loose, Slang. to remain relaxed or calm: Try to hang loose and don't let it bother you.
53. hang one on, Slang.
a. to hit: He hung one on the bully and knocked him down.
b. to become extremely drunk: Every payday he hangs one on.
54. hang one's head. head (def. 66).
55. hang ten, to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body as far forward as possible and the toes of both feet curled over the front edge of the surfboard.
56. hang together,
a. to be loyal to one another; remain united: “We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
b. to cohere: This pancake batter doesn't hang together.
c. to be logical or consistent: His version of the story does not hang together.
57. hang tough, Slang. to remain unyielding, stubborn, or inflexible: He's hanging tough and won't change his mind.
58. let it all hang out, Slang.
a. to be completely candid in expressing one's feelings, opinions, etc.: She's never been one to let it all hang out.
b. to act or live without restraint or inhibitions.
Origin:
bef. 900; fusion of 3 verbs: (1) ME, OE hōn to hang (transit.), c. Goth hāhan, orig. *haghan; (2) ME hang(i)en, OE hangian to hang (intrans.), c. G hangen; (3) ME henge < ON hengja (transit.), c. G hängen to hang

Related forms:
hang⋅a⋅ble, adjective
hang⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun

Synonyms:
4. Hang, lynch have in common the meaning of “to put to death,” but lynching is not always by hanging. Hang, in the sense of execute, is in accordance with a legal sentence, the method of execution being to suspend by the neck until dead. To lynch, however, implies the summary putting to death, by any method, of someone charged with a flagrant offense (though guilt may not have been proved). Lynching is done by private persons, usually a mob, without legal authority. 26. depend, rely, rest, hinge.

Usage note:
Hang has two forms for the past tense and past participle, hanged and hung. The historically older form hanged is now used exclusively in the sense of causing or putting to death: He was sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead. In the sense of legal execution, hung is also quite common and is standard in all types of speech and writing except in legal documents. When legal execution is not meant, hung has become the more frequent form: The prisoner hung himself in his cell.

loose

  [loos] adjective, loos⋅er, loos⋅est, adverb, verb loosed, loos⋅ing.
–adjective
1. free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end.
2. free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered: loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.
3. uncombined, as a chemical element.
4. not bound together: to wear one's hair loose.
5. not put up in a package or other container: loose mushrooms.
6. available for disposal; unused; unappropriated: loose funds.
7. lacking in reticence or power of restraint: a loose tongue.
8. lax, as the bowels.
9. lacking moral restraint or integrity; notorious for his loose character.
10. sexually promiscuous or immoral; unchaste.
11. not firm, taut, or rigid: a loose tooth; a loose rein.
12. relaxed or limber in nature: He runs with a loose, open stride.
13. not fitting closely or tightly: a loose sweater.
14. not close or compact in structure or arrangement; having spaces between the parts; open: a loose weave.
15. having few restraining factors between associated constituents and allowing ample freedom for independent action: a loose federation of city-states.
16. not cohering: loose sand.
17. not strict, exact, or precise: a loose interpretation of the law.
18. Sports.
a. having the players on a team positioned at fairly wide intervals, as in a football formation.
b. (of a ball, hockey puck, etc.) not in the possession of either team; out of player control.
–adverb
19. in a loose manner; loosely (usually used in combination): loose-flowing.
–verb (used with object)
20. to let loose; free from bonds or restraint.
21. to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.
22. Chiefly Nautical. to set free from fastening or attachment: to loose a boat from its moorings.
23. to unfasten, undo, or untie, as a bond, fetter, or knot.
24. to shoot; discharge; let fly: to loose missiles at the invaders.
25. to make less tight; slacken or relax.
26. to render less firmly fixed; lessen an attachment; loosen.
–verb (used without object)
27. to let go a hold.
28. to hoist anchor; get under way.
29. to shoot or let fly an arrow, bullet, etc. (often fol. by off): to loose off at a flock of ducks.
30. Obsolete. to become loose; loosen.
—Idioms
31. break loose, to free oneself; escape: The convicts broke loose.
32. cast loose,
a. to loosen or unfasten, as a ship from a mooring.
b. to send forth; set adrift or free: He was cast loose at an early age to make his own way in the world.
33. cut loose,
a. to release from domination or control.
b. to become free, independent, etc.
c. to revel without restraint: After the rodeo they headed into town to cut loose.
34. hang or stay loose, Slang. to remain relaxed and unperturbed.
35. let loose,
a. to free or become free.
b. to yield; give way: The guardrail let loose and we very nearly plunged over the edge.
36. on the loose,
a. free; unconfined, as, esp., an escaped convict or circus animal.
b. behaving in an unrestrained or dissolute way: a bachelor on the loose.
37. turn loose, to release or free, as from confinement: The teacher turned the children loose after the class.
Origin:
1175–1225; (adj.) ME los, loos < ON lauss loose, free, empty; c. OE lēas (see -less ), D, G los loose, free; (v.) ME leowsen, lousen, deriv. of the adj.

Related forms:
loosely, adverb
looseness, noun

Synonyms:
2. unbound, untied, unrestricted, unconfined. 10. libertine, dissolute, licentious. 17. vague, general, indefinite. 20. loosen, unbind. 21. liberate. 25. ease.

Antonyms:
1. bound. 10. chaste. 25. tighten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hang loose
hang   (hāng)   
v.   hung (hŭng), hang·ing, hangs

v.   tr.

  1. To fasten from above with no support from below; suspend.

  2. To suspend or fasten so as to allow free movement at or about the point of suspension: hang a door.

  3. past tense and past participle hanged (hāngd)

    1. To execute by suspending by the neck: They hanged the prisoner at dawn.

    2. Used to express exasperation or disgust: I'll be hanged! Hang it all!

    3. To attach to a wall: hang wallpaper.

    4. To display, as in a gallery or office: hung four new paintings in the foyer.

  4. To fix or attach at an appropriate angle: hang a scythe to its handle.

  5. To alter the hem of (a garment) so as to fall evenly at a specified height.

  6. To furnish, decorate, or appoint by suspending objects around or about: hang a room with curtains.

  7. To hold or incline downward; let droop: hang one's head in sorrow.

  8. Informal To make (a turn in a specific direction): At the next intersection, hang a right.

    1. To attach to a wall: hang wallpaper.

    2. To display, as in a gallery or office: hung four new paintings in the foyer.

  10. Informal To give (a nickname or label) to someone.

  11. To deadlock (a jury) by failing to render a unanimous verdict.

  12. Baseball To throw (a pitch) in such a manner as to fail to break.

  13. Computer Science To cause (a computer system) to halt so that input devices, such as the keyboard or the mouse, do not function.

v.   intr.

  1. To be attached from above with no support from below.

  2. To die as a result of hanging.

  3. To remain suspended or poised over a place or an object; hover: rain clouds hanging low over the corn fields.

  4. To attach oneself as a dependent or an impediment; cling.

  5. To incline downward; droop.

  6. To depend: Everything hangs on the committee's decision.

  7. To pay strict attention: a student who hangs on the professor's every word.

  8. To remain unresolved or uncertain: His future hung in the balance.

  9. To fit the body in loose lines: a dress that hangs well.

  10. To be on display, as in a gallery.

  11. Baseball To fail to break or move in the intended way, as a curve ball.

  12. To be imminent; loom: the threat hanging over us.

  13. To be or become burdensome. Time hung heavy on my hands.

  14. Computer Science To be halted, as a computer system, so that input devices do not function: The power surge caused my computer to hang, so I had to reboot it.

  15. Slang

    1. To spend one's free time in a certain place. Often used with around or out: liked to hang out at the pool hall.

    2. To pass time idly; loiter. Often used with around or out: spent the evening hanging at home; hung out for an hour before going to the play.

    3. To keep company; see socially. Often used with around or out: hangs around with kids from a different school.

n.  

  1. The way in which something hangs.

  2. A downward inclination or slope.

  3. Particular meaning or significance.

  4. Informal The proper method for doing, using, or handling something: finally got the hang of it.

  5. A suspension of motion; a slackening.

  6. To cling tightly to something.

  7. To continue persistently; persevere.

  8. To keep a telephone connection open.

  9. To wait for a short period of time.

  10. To stand united; stick together: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately" (Benjamin Franklin).

  11. To constitute a coherent totality: diverse plot lines that did not hang together.

  12. To suspend on a hook or hanger.

    1. To replace (a telephone receiver) on its base or cradle.

    2. To end a telephone conversation.

    3. To delay or impede; hinder: Budget problems hung up the project for months.

    4. To become halted or snagged: The fishing line hung up on a rock.

    5. Informal To have or cause to have emotional difficulties or inhibitions.

    1. To delay or impede; hinder: Budget problems hung up the project for months.

    2. To become halted or snagged: The fishing line hung up on a rock.

    3. Informal To have or cause to have emotional difficulties or inhibitions.

Phrasal Verb(s):
hang backTo be averse; hold back.
hang in Informal To persevere: decided to hang in despite his illness.
hang offTo hold back; be averse.
hang on

  1. To cling tightly to something.

  2. To continue persistently; persevere.

  3. To keep a telephone connection open.

  4. To wait for a short period of time.

hang together

  1. To stand united; stick together: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately" (Benjamin Franklin).

  2. To constitute a coherent totality: diverse plot lines that did not hang together.

hang up

  1. To suspend on a hook or hanger.

    1. To replace (a telephone receiver) on its base or cradle.

    2. To end a telephone conversation.

    3. To delay or impede; hinder: Budget problems hung up the project for months.

    4. To become halted or snagged: The fishing line hung up on a rock.

    5. Informal To have or cause to have emotional difficulties or inhibitions.

    1. To delay or impede; hinder: Budget problems hung up the project for months.

    2. To become halted or snagged: The fishing line hung up on a rock.

    3. Informal To have or cause to have emotional difficulties or inhibitions.


Idiom(s):
give/care a hangTo be concerned or anxious: I don't give a hang what you do.

Idiom(s):
hang fire

  1. To delay: "They are people who hung fire even through the bloody days of the Hungarian Revolution" (Mark Muro).

  2. To be slow in firing, as a gun.


Idiom(s):
hang in there Informal To persevere despite difficulties; persist: She hung in there despite pressure to resign.

Idiom(s):
hang it up Informal To give up; quit.

Idiom(s):
hang loose Slang To stay calm or relaxed.

Idiom(s):
hang (one's) hatTo settle oneself; take up residence: hung my hat in Chicago.

Idiom(s):
hang on toTo hold firmly; keep fast: Hang on to your money.

Idiom(s):
hang tough Informal To remain firmly resolved: "We are going to hang tough on this" (Donald T. Regan).

Idiom(s):
let it all hang out Slang

  1. To be completely relaxed.

  2. To be completely candid.


[Middle English hongen, from Old English hangian, to be suspended, and from hōn, to hang; see konk- in Indo-European roots.]
hang'a·ble adj.
Usage Note: Hanged, as a past tense and a past participle of hang, is used in the sense of "to put to death by hanging," as in Frontier courts hanged many a prisoner after a summary trial. A majority of the Usage Panel objects to hung used in this sense. In all other senses of the word, hung is the preferred form as past tense and past participle, as in I hung my child's picture above my desk.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
hang (around)

  1. in.
    to loiter; to waste away time doing nothing. : Don't just hang around. Get busy with something.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
hang loose

and stay loose
  1. in.
    to relax and stay cool. : Just hang loose, man. Everything'll be all right. , Stay loose, bud.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
loose

  1. mod.
    very drunk. : Mary was a little loose and had to be driven home.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

hang 
a fusion of O.E. hon "suspend" (transitive, class VII strong verb; past tense heng, pp. hangen), and O.E. hangian (weak, intransitive, past tense hangode) "be suspended;" also probably influenced by O.N. hengja "suspend," and hanga "be suspended." All from P.Gmc. *khang-, from PIE *keng- "to waver, be in suspense" (cf. Goth. hahan, Hittite gang- "to hang," Skt. sankate "wavers," L. cunctari "to delay;" see also second element in Stonehenge). Hung emerged as pp. 16c. in northern England dial., and hanged endured only in legal language (which tends to be conservative) and metaphors extended from it (I'll be hanged). Teen slang sense of "spend time" first recorded 1951; hang around "idle, loiter" is from 1830, and hang out (v.) is from 1844. Hang fire (1781) was originally used of guns that were slow in communicating the fire through the vent to the charge. Hanger-on is from 1549. To get the hang of (something) "understand" is from 1845. Hang-up "psychological fixation" is first attested 1959. To let it all hang out "be relaxed and uninhibited" is from 1970.

loose  (adj.)
c.1300, from O.N. lauss "loose, free, vacant, dissolute," cognate with O.E. leas "devoid of, false, feigned, incorrect," from P.Gmc. *lausaz (cf. Dan. løs "loose, untied," M.Du., Ger. los, Goth. laus), from PIE *lau-/*leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart" (see lose). The verb is first recorded c.1225, "to set free." Sense of "unchaste, immoral" is recorded from c.1470. Figurative loose cannon first recorded 1977.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: hang
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: hung also hanged; hang·ing
transitive verb : to suspend by the neck until dead esp. as a form of execution —often hanged in the past tense intransitive verb 1 : to die by hanging —often hanged in the past tense hanged for his crimes>
2 : to be unable to reach a decision or verdict hung on 19 counts against [him] —Randall Samborn>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: loose
Pronunciation: 'lüs
Function: adjective
Inflected Forms: loos·er; loos·est
1 a : not rigidlyfastened or securely attached b (1) : having worked partly free from attachments loose tooth> (2) : having relative freedom of movement c : produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus loose cough>
2 : not dense, close, or compact in structure or arrangement <loose connective tissue>
3 : lacking in restraint or power of restraint <loose bowels>
4 : not tightly drawn or stretched —loose·ly adverb —loose·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

hang loose

Relax, take it easy, as in Just hang loose and it will all work out. [Slang; mid-1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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