hang on
[verb]
Synonyms: persevere, carry on, go on, persist

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English Thesaurus: hold, grip, clutch, clasp, get/take hold of something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

hang on phrasal verb (see also hang)

1. to hold something tightly
hang on to
She hung on to the side of the cart.
Hang on tight!

2. hang on! British English spoken
a) used to ask or tell someone to wait Synonym : hold on:
Hang on! I’ll be back in a minute.
b) used when you have just noticed or thought of something that is interesting or wrong

3. hang on something to depend on something:
Everything hangs on the outcome of this meeting.

4. hang on sb’s words/every word to pay close attention to everything someone is saying:
She was watching his face, hanging on his every word.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

hold to have something in your hand, hands, or arms:
Maria came in holding a letter.
Can I hold the baby?
grip to hold something very tightly and not let it go:
He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away.
Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
clutch to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it:
A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase.
The little girl clutched onto his hand.
clasp written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them:
She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers.
He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
get/take hold of something to take something in your hand or hands and hold it:
I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.
Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
grasp written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way:
She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
grab to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
He grabbed my bag and ran off with it.
The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of ) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
seize /siːz/ written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently:
A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
hang on (to something) to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself:
He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike.
Hang on tight!
keep hold of something to continue to hold something:
Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog.
She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
a tight/firm hold
Rose had a tight hold of her hand.
tighten your hold
Maria winced as Luke tightened his hold on her fingers.
loosen/relax your hold
Laughing, he loosened his hold until she could pull her arms free.
release your hold (=stop holding something)
As soon as his fingers released their hold, Robyn turned and ran.
catch/grab/seize etc hold of something (=start holding something quickly and firmly)
She grabbed hold of the letter and tore it open.
have hold of something (=be holding something)
Nathan had hold of her hand again.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

hang on
1.
to hold on tightly.
Firefighters used to hang on to the back of the fire truck as it raced to a fire.

2.
to wait.
Excuse me, wait a minute! Verna, can you hang on just a second? I'll be right back.

Usage notes: often used when you are talking on the telephone
3.
to continue despite appearing as if the end is near.
That awful show has hung on for yet another year, although we can't imagine why or how.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hang on
1. continue
Although conditions were very bad he decided to hang on and fight to keep his business going.

2. wait, continue listening on the telephone
"Hang on for a minute while I go and get some paper and a pen."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

hang on
v.
1. To hold on to something, usually tightly.
Jack almost fell off the cliff, but managed to hang on until help came.
Synonym: HOLD ON¹.
2a. To continue doing something; persist.
The grocer was losing money every day, but he hung on, hoping that business would improve.
Compare: HOLD OUT, STICK OUT.
2b. To hold a lead in a race or other contest while one's opponents try to rally.
The favorite horse opened an early lead and hung on to win as two other horses almost passed him in the final stretch.
Bunning, staked to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, hung on to heat the Dodgers 6-4.
3. To continue to give trouble or cause suffering.
Lou's cold hung on from January to April.
4. To continue listening on the telephone.
Jerry asked John, who had called him on the phone, to hung on while he ran for a pencil and a sheet of paper.
Compare: HOLD ON³.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲